PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
August 4, 2005
___________________
ST. SARKIS CHURCH OF CHARLOTTE CONSECRATED BY ARCHBISHOP BARSAMIAN
By Jake Goshert
It was the birth of a new community as more than 300 people gathered on
Sunday, July 31, 2005, for the consecration of the newest Armenian
Church in the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern): St.
Sarkis Church of Charlotte, NC.
The community has built itself up from just a handful of families, and a
few years after buying its property was blessed by the generosity of a
benefactor from Easton, PA: Mr. Sarkis Acopian.
“I look around today and I see so many people from so many backgrounds
and life experiences,” said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the
Diocese, during the consecration service. “And yet you have all come
together — in unity — in the name of our Lord, under the shield of His
church, in the cause of the Armenian Christian heritage. And you have
done this, even though you are remote from the larger concentrations of
our people in this country. Today you begin a new life together,
united, as an Armenian Christian church.”
STARTED AS A DREAM
As he consecrated the new St. Sarkis Church, the Primate reflected on
the humble origins of the community. The Armenians in the Charlotte
area first began to be called together when Lena Kupelian Neau arrived
in the area in 1988. At that time there was no Armenian organization in
the area.
She pulled out the phone book and started making phone calls to all the
Armenians she could find. Pulling others into an organization, she was
joined by people like Roland Telfayan; Arthur, Puzant, and Paul
Yessayan; and Zaven Touloukian.
“My profound appreciation goes out to those who had the vision to
establish a parish in this area,” the Primate said. “And also to those
who took up that vision, built upon it, and expanded it.”
Dozens of these local community leaders, who gave so much of their time,
energy, and financial resources to enliven the community, served as
“godfamilies” of the church during its consecration.
The road to building the new church took some unexpected turns, causing
the consecration to be postponed from two earlier dates. But now, at
last, the community finally have a proper Armenian spiritual home of
their own.
“We feel finally have a home we can gather in. Since we’ve been using
the sanctuary attendance has quadrupled,” said Mrs. Kupelian Neau, the
present parish council chair, who added that the parish now gets between
60 and 120 people at services. “The feeling in our former location — a
rented church — was different; people would be talking during the
services. But here you can hear a pin drop. The new church is having a
totally different effect on the parishioners. I think because we’re
going from an American church to a totally Armenian church.”
Standing on a main street in Charlotte, and being constructed in the
style of traditional Armenian Church architecture, also means the parish
is helping educate the locals about the Armenian people.
“It has put the Armenians on the map of Charlotte. Nobody questions
what an Armenian is anymore. Everybody knows now. Everybody in
Charlotte is talking about it,” Ms. Kupelian Neau said.
HONORING A MOTHER’S LOVE
The community was boosted last year when Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis and Bobbye
Acopian, from Easton, PA, pledged $2.25 million to build the new church
in honor of Sarkis’ mother, Arax.
Arax was born in Kars, Turkey, in 1898, and grew up in Georgia and Iran,
where she was a respected dentist. With her husband Grigor, she shared
her devotion to the Armenian church and Armenian people with three
children.
Mr. and Mrs. Acopian were on hand to attend the consecration and cut the
ribbon on the adjoining church hall, named in their honor, where the
celebratory banquet was held.
Serving as “godfamilies” during the consecration of the St. Sarkis
Church of Charlotte, NC, were:
Pierre Arbajian
Nely Avakyants
Edward and Mary Anne Azarian
Leon and Sonia Bagdasarian
Olga Boloyan
Raymond and Roberta Bozoian
Charles and Betty Diman
Paul, Dolores, and Donna Loutigian
Sergey and Arevat Manucharova
Gerard and Lena (Kupelian) Neau
Hagop and Noelle Sarkissian
Genrikh and Zhanna Shirazyan
Roland and Marie Telfeyan
Hagop and Zaven and Raye Touloukian
Diane Gulkasian Tudor
Ara Sylvie, Arthur and Lynn, and Paul and Sylva Yessayan
— 8/3/05
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese, flanked by Fr. Daniel Karadjian, left, and Fr. Daniel Findikyan
and benefactor Sarkis Acopian enter the filled St. Sarkis Church of
Charlotte, NC, on the day of its final consecration, July 31, 2005.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): The Primate blesses the altar cross during the
consecration of the St. Sarkis Church in Charlotte, NC, on July 31,
2005.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): Archbishop Barsamian blesses one of the crosses
surrounding the St. Sarkis Church in Charlotte, NC.
PHOTO CAPTION (4): The Primate, Fr. Daniel Karadjian, left, and Fr.
Daniel Findikyan, fight, bless the altar at the new St. Sarkis Church of
Charlotte, NC, on July 31, 2005.
PHOTO CAPTION (5): The Primate and benefactors Sarkis and Bobbye
Acopian prepare to release doves in celebration following the
consecration of the St. Sarkis Church of Charlotte, NC, on July 31,
2005.
PHOTO CAPTION (6): Archbishop Barsamian is joined by the godparents,
altar servers, choir, and leaders of the newly consecrated St. Sarkis
Church of Charlotte, NC.
PHOTO CAPTION (7): The newly consecrated St. Sarkis Church sits on a
main intersection in Charlotte, NC.
PHOTO CAPTION (8): Young parishioners of the St. Sarkis Church in
Charlotte, NC, dance during the banquet in the adjoining Sarkis and
Bobbye Acopian Cultural Hall following the consecration of the sanctuary
on July 31, 2005.
# # #

Friends start ‘Free Dr. Jack’ letter campaign
The Oakland Press (Oakland County, Michigan)
Sunday, April 11, 2004
By TRACY WARD of The Oakland Press
On this day, they’re at Marinelli’s restaurant in Troy, talking over
hamburgers and coffee, passing “Free Dr. Jack” bumper stickers up and
down the long table.
“We’ve been quiet because we didn’t want to interrupt the legal end of
it,” said Zorob “Zip” Kabodian, 78, a retired aircraft mechanic who
lives in Rochester Hills. “And now we can’t do any harm. We’re going to
let people know we care. Jack will know we care.”
The group, which still meets weekly after all these years, has great
memories of Kevorkian. The Pontiac neighborhood where they grew up, near
Franklin and Harrison streets, was mixed with new immigrants. It was the
1930s and everybody, thanks to the Depression, was broke, but everybody
was in the same boat.
“We didn’t have bicycles,” Sally Kabodian said. “I can remember a
neighbor did, and the kids would get up early and line up at her house
for a chance to ride it.”
They were the children of Armenians who came to America after the
Armenian Genocide of 1915, when 1.5 million people were killed by
Ottoman Turks.
As children, most of them didn’t speak English when they started at
Wilson and Bagley Elementary schools – buildings that were torn down
long ago.
Kids played “Kick-the-Can” in the street. They remember the time Jack
Kevorkian tried to make a waterwheel in the creek at Pontiac’s Dodge
Park or worked on an electrical bicycle.
“I remember walking – six of us walking down the streets of Pontiac at
night, talking about philosophy, life, everything,” said Vanig
Godoshian, 71, a retired communications engineer from Sylvan Lake.
“Everybody looked up to Jack.”
“He was so smart, so smart,” said Sally Kabodian.
Other friends remember Kevorkian as warm-hearted but a loner.
Some group members are more zealous than others. The members – faithful
Catholic or Armenian Orthodox who are proud, as many Armenians are, that
their country was the first to adopt Christianity in 301 – even have
different views on assisted suicide.
If he is released, would they want him involved in more assisted
suicides, something Kevorkian has said he wouldn’t do?
“Jack keeps his word,” said one group member. “He would never disappoint
his friends.”
“I wouldn’t want him to,” said Zoe Dakesian, 81, whose late husband,
Walter, grew up with Kevorkian in Pontiac.
Martin Krikorian, 78, a retired Oakland County mechanic, said he’s
willing to help.
“Well, he’s Armenian,” he said, giving a little shrug. “I believe in his
work.”
Kabodian said Kevorkian has paid his debt to society.
“He’s paid his price. It’s time for him to be released, to have a little
peace and quiet in his later years,” he said.
“He shouldn’t have tried to be his own lawyer,” said another friend,
shaking his head.
“He’s doing the right thing,” said Nick Markarian, 73, of Warren. “If
people are sick, why are they going to suffer? The patient asks him to
save him so they don’t suffer no more.”
“There are worse crimes now,” Zoe Dakesian said.
Godoshian said his friends asked Kevorkian not to push so hard, but he’s
hard-headed and once he makes up his mind, he’s immovable.
The Kabodians said the group will mail letters to family and friends, to
people on their Christmas lists, asking for support.
Zip Kabodian holds up an envelope. On it, he has sketched a
jack-in-the-box with the words “Free Dr. Jack” written underneath.
“He puts that on every letter, every bill we send out,” said his wife,
with a smile.
“He’s warm-hearted, compassionate and wants to help people,” Kabodian
said. “It’s time for him to be released.”
PHOTO CAPTION: Archie Hovsepian, 81, of Waterford Township (from left);
John Kouzoujian, 77, of Troy; and Martin Krikorian, 78, of Troy (far
right) ~K friends and supporters of Jack Kevorkian ~K meet at Marinelli’s
of Troy to discuss a campaign to free their old friend. — The Daily
Oakland Press / GARY MALERBA
Click here to read story:

OSCE MISSION MONITORED CONTACT LINE BETWEEN NKR AND AZERI ARMED FORCES
PanArmenian News Network
Aug 4 2005
04.08.2005 07:09
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today the OSCE Mission held a regular monitoring of
the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan armed forces’ contact-line on the
south-eastern section of the NKR Martouni region. From the positions
of the NKR Defense Army, the monitoring mission was led by Field
Assistants of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office’s Personal Representative
Miroslav Vymetal (the Czech Republic) and Olexandr Samarsky
(Ukraine). The monitoring passed in accordance with the planned
schedule, no violations of the cease-fire regime were registered.
>>From the Karabakh party, representatives of the NKR Ministries of
Foreign Affairs and Defense accompanied the OSCE monitoring mission,
reported the NKR MFA Press Service.

225 ARMENIANS OBTAINED UKRAINIAN CITIZENSHIP WITHIN 2005 FORMER HALF
PanArmenian News Network
Aug 4 2005
04.08.2005 03:05
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 3 037 persons got Ukrainian passports within
the former half-year of 2005. 1 469 out of these had been citizens
of other countries before. According to the Press Service of the
Ukrainian President, within the period in question 455 former
Russian citizens, 254 those of Moldavia, 225 – of Armenia, 126 of
Azerbaijan and other 32 countries, which include Afghanistan, Belarus,
Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, became Ukrainian citizens. In the national
respect Russians (1 321 persons), Armenians (439) and Moldavians
(187) are leaders in getting Ukrainian citizenship. Representatives
of 80 nationalities have become citizens of Ukraine. 20.7% of these
have higher education, 70.1% – secondary or specialized secondary
education, reported Regnum news agency.

Speaker of House Hastert Allegedly Bribed
Democracy Now, NY
Aug 4 2005
A new story in Vanity Fair is alleging that Turkish-Americans may have
attempted to bribe a group of U.S. lawmakers including Republican
Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert. The allegation appears in
an extended piece in the magazine about FBI whistleblower Sibel
Edmonds. According to the magazine, Edmonds was helping the FBI
translate tapes surrounding an investigation of Turkish nationals.
She was fired from her job after she complained about corruption
at the agency. Edmonds is under a federal gag order not to publicly
discuss what she heard on the wiretaps. But sources told the magazine
that Edmonds has testified that she heard wiretaps of individuals
boasting that they had covert relationships with Speaker of the
House Dennis Hastert and that Turkish interests had given tens of
thousands of dollars in small donations to Hastert. The donations
were reportedly given around the time that the House was considering
passing a resolution condemning the Turkish genocide of Armenians.
Hastert originally backed the resolution but then withdrew it minutes
before it was scheduled to go up for a House vote. Hastert’s office
has denied receiving any such payments and Vanity Fair reports that
there is no evidence that any payments were made. Edmonds is suing the
government over his dismissal but the Bush administration is attempting
to have the lawsuit squashed claiming it would reveal state secrets.

Monitoring on Azeri-Armenian contact line passes off without incidents
Lider TV, Baku
4 Aug 05
Monitoring was held today on the contact line of the [Azerbaijani
and Armenian] troops in the village of Asagi Veysalli in Xocavand
[Martuni] District [of Nagornyy Karabakh] in accordance with the
mandate of the personal representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office.
Field assistants of the personal representative of the OSCE
chairman-in-office conducted the monitoring on the Azerbaijani and
Armenian sides. The monitoring passed off without incidents, the
press service of the [Azerbaijani] Defence Ministry reported.

ARMENIAN SCHOLARS TO TAKE PART IN DEILEMAN STUDIES CONFERENCE IN IRAN
PanArmenian News Network
Aug 4 2005
04.08.2005 02:51
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian scholars will take part in a Deileman
Studies conference to be held in Resht, Deileman and Siakhkel ~V three
towns of Gilyan Iranian ostan. As reported by Deputy Chief of the
Department of Culture and Islamic Orientation of Gilyan ostan
Mohammad Hasanpur, the first conference will be held August 17-18.
«Over 500 Iranian scholars, as well as two scientists from Armenia
will take part in the two-day conference,» he added. The event
program includes speeches, a theater performance, a film screening
and a concert. «Simultaneous to the conference a photo exhibition of
historical documents and monuments of Deileman will open,» he noted.
Deileman is a historical region of Gilyan situated in Siakhkel region
of the ostan. The region is the Shiah cradle. Johan of Deilem, one of
Jesus Christ’s apostles also came from Deileman region, as well as
famous science and art figures, Irna reported.
–Boundary_(ID_D5W8hzUVyMcLtZaJ6yuuew)–

US PROMISES TO ACTIVATE EFFORTS TO SOLVE KARABAKH ISSUE
PanArmenian News Network
Aug 4 2005
04.08.2005 03:03
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On 1 August Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov started his first working visit to Washington at the
invitation of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. During the
visit to last by 5 August the FM will hold meetings at the State
Department, Pentagon, National Security Council and U.S. influential
political centers, reported the 525 Baku newspaper. August 2
Mammadyarov held meetings at the State Department, including
with C. Rice. However, a short statement by the Azeri FM allows
concluding that the Karabakh issue was just the key one among the
questions discussed. The Azeri FM said he was fully satisfied with the
discussions, adding the talks were very useful. In his words, the US as
a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group has promised to activate efforts for
soonest peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. C. Rice
underscored that the US stand in the issue is unchangeable – Washington
advocates solution of the conflict “based on the territorial
integrity principle.” The talks also focused on wide spectrum of
issues concerning bilateral and economic cooperation. The parties
noted with satisfaction the implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum projects. C. Rice emphasized Azerbaijan’s
leadership in implementation of global projects. E. Mammadyarov
noted the importance of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway
to Azerbaijan. August 2 E. Mammadyarov also met with OSCE MG US
Ambassador Steven Mann. The conversation focused on the Karabakh peace
talks. As it is known Armenian and Azeri Presidents are expected
to meet in Kazan Russian town at the unofficial CIS summit. The
Mammadyarov-Mann meeting again considered the settlement process on
the eve of the meeting. Yesterday Mr. Mammadyarov held meetings in
Pentagon and National Security Council. His visit to Pentagon resulted
in various speculations in the Azeri and Russian print. It should
be reminded that E. Mammadyarov paid a similar visit to Washington
last summer, but he did not go to Pentagon. Thus some observers
state that his visit to Pentagon aims at preparing Pentagon Chief
Donald Rumsfeld’s visit to Baku expected at the end of August. It is
noted that the FM’s visit in question and those to Pentagon becoming
frequent evidence the US launching implementation of the plans to
deploy its military base in Azerbaijan. There are also statements
available that Azerbaijan’s agreement to deployment of the base in
its territory can result in significant mitigation of the Washington
stance over the November election in Azerbaijan. It is stated that
political bargain takes place between the US and Azerbaijan over
these two issues, the newspaper notes.

BAKU RESUMES PROCEEDINGS ON “OCCUPATION” OF KHOJALU IN KARABAKH
PanArmenian News Network
Aug 4 2005
04.08.2005 03:19
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ July 12 the Military Prosecutor’s Office of
Azerbaijan resumed the proceedings on the criminal case (that
had been suspended March 31, 1994) on the fact of “occupation”
of Khojalu town in Nagorno Karabakh. According to a release of the
Press Service of the Military Prosecutor’s Office of Azerbaijan,
“Armenian troops, Karabakh separatist troops and the military of 366th
regiment of the Soviet Army committed a crime February 25-26, 1992,
which is qualified as genocide,” reported Turan Azeri news agency. The
Military Prosecutor’s Office has instituted proceedings over “seizure”
of Khojalu, having reconsidered the investigation materials on the
current Criminal Code articles 103 (genocide), 115 (violation of rules
and customs of war), 16 (violation of international humanitarian
law norms during armed conflicts), 118 (military robbery). The
“seizure” of Khojalu “was accompanied by unprecedented atrocity:
339 city residents were killed, including 43 children, 109 women,
16 men over 60 years of age. 115 persons were missing, 30 were taken
hostage, 421 were wounded.” Besides, July 15 this year the Military
Prosecutor’s Office of Azerbaijan has instituted proceedings “on
seizure of Garadagly village of Khojavand region on the night of
February 16, 1992 on article 103 (genocide).” “In the course of
the seizure of the village 49 persons were killed, another 57 local
residents were held hostage for a long time and were tortured.” “At
present, measures are being taken to call to account, find and judge
those, who had committed the crime against humanity and military
crimes on both cases,” the report says.

ARMENIA TO TAKE PART IN TERROR FIGHTING INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
PanArmenian News Network
Aug 4 2005
04.08.2005 03:26
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Special divisions for fighting terror from Belarus,
Russia, Ukraine and Armenia will take part in international competition
to be held in Minsk August 8-14, reported Interfax referring to
the Ministry of Interior of Belarus. The source reported that “on
various areas fighters will demonstrate their physical preparation
when overcoming a special strip of obstacles, shooting accuracy,
tactical skills when storming an object.” The event program also
includes hand-to-hand fight, sniper and engineering and pyrotechnics
competitions.