MILESTONES

BINGHAMTON GAINS A NEW DEACON

Hagop “Jack” Injajigian was ordained as a deacon on May 9 by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian at his home parish, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Binghamton, N.Y. Injajigian also serves the St. Paul Church of Syracuse, about an hour away. The Binghamton parish—which has just one other deacon— is in-between parish priests, and Dn. Injajigian has been providing some of the services a priest normally is called upon to perform, such as visiting the sick, and he also takes care of the holy vessels on the altar.

PRIESTLY ANNIVERSARIES MARKED IN EASTERN DIOCESE

On May 22, the Primate was in Trumbull, Conn., marking the 25th anniversary of the priestly ordination of Fr. Untzag Nalbandian, pastor of the Church of the Holy Ascension. During the celebration, the Primate presented Fr. Nalbandian with a pontifical encyclical from His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, elevating Fr. Nalbandian to the rank of “arch-priest.”

On May 23, the Primate traveled to St. Mary Armenian Church in Livingston, N.J., where he attended a banquet honoring the 10-year ordination anniversary of Fr. Shnork Souin.

And on Sunday, June 6, 2004, hundreds of faithful from his current parish, the Holy Trinity Church of Cheltenham, PA, gathered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Fr. Tateos Abdalain’s ordination.

On October 10, the Primate visited in Cambridge, Mass., to commemorate the 10-year ordination anniversary of Fr. Vasken Kouzouian, pastor of the Armenian Church there.

LIVINGSTON N.J. PARISH GROWS WITH NEW SUB-DEACON, ACOLYTES

While in Livingston, N.J., to honor Fr. Shnork Souin, the Primate ordained Matthew Dalakian as a sub-deacon and Matthew Krikorian, Alan Chaderjian, Erik Chamberjian, and Julie Hoplamazian as acolytes.

ARCHBISHOP ORDAINS FIVE ALTAR SERVERS IN WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, traveled to the St. Gregory the Enlightener Church of White Plains, N.Y., on June 4 to ordain altar servers and bless the choir members and the new church doors. The Primate ordained as tbirs Edward Essayan and Michael Givelekian, Peter Derderian, Gregory Guroian, and Artin Ohanian were also ordained as sub-deacons. All three of the new sub-deacons are college freshmen.

The Primate blessed the veils of the parish choir members Anoush Givelekian, Anita Essayan, Irene Braccini, Noimik Poulatian, Elizabeth Guroian, Helen Kapikian, Rita Kurkjian, Gloria Kouzoujian, and Vilma Nakashian. The Primate also blessed two religious paintings of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ by the well-known Armenian artist Katchaz. He also blessed the new main door of the church, recently replaced through a donation by Mr. Haig Tutakian, the godfather of the church, in memory of his late wife Vartouhi.

ARCHBISHOP ORDAINS TBIR IN BELLVILLE, ILL.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian ordained Mark Marifian as a tbir on August 15 at The Holy Virgin Mary and Shoghagat Church in Belleville, Ill. During the visit, the Primate and visiting pastor, Fr. Abraham Ohanesian also performed the “Blessing of the Grapes” ceremony as part of the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother-of-God. The grapes are blessed at that time as the first fruits of the harvest.

PARISH TURNS OUT FOR ORDINATION SERVICE IN RACINE, WISCONSIN

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian ordained Daniel Korakian as a deacon on August 29 at the St. Mesrob Church of Racine, Wis. The same weekend, the Primate also ordained five new acolytes: Grace Bedoian; Amanda Desotell; Britany Garvin; Alex Janiuk; and Marissa Mahnke; and five sub-deacons: Joseph Gabrielian; Richard Kadamian; Aram Katerdjian; Kai Kazarian; and Stanton Sheridan.

DALLAS SAYS GOODBYE TO VISITING PASTOR, AS THEY GET FULL-TIME PRIEST

On August 15, Armenians from throughout North Texas gathered to honor Fr. Paree Metjian, who has been the visiting priest at the St. Sarkis Church of Dallas, TX, for the past 18 months. During that time, St. Sarkis, without a permanent clergyman, had its spiritual needs filled by Fr. Metjian, who came from Philadelphia regularly to help the community. The parish welcomed Fr. Mikael Devejian as pastor on September 1.