Legate and Habitat for Humanity

Clergy then heard from Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan legate, and Michael Haratounian, vice chairman of the Legate Committee.

They spoke about some of the Legate’s work around the world. One area Archbishop Aykazian has been active in is the international Habitat for Humanity movement. He was elected last year to the Habitat for Humanity International board. He has been active in the organization for the past five years, since taking the leadership of Habitat to Armenia to see the need there first hand.

Within the last five years 350 houses have been built through Habitat’s coordination with the Armenian Church. Archbishop Aykazian said he hopes to work with Habitat to build hundreds more homes in Armenia.

“We need your help, we need your encouragement, and more than everything we need you to encourage your children and yourself to go to Armenia and see Armenia and work a few days on one of those houses,” he said. “Whoever goes once, as soon as they come back they try to arrange another one for next year.”

“It’s the mission of the church to help homeless people, to be a part of social difficulties our people have. Therefore it’s the mission of every priest,” he said, as he encouraged delegates to also financially help Habitat for Humanity. “There isn’t a better moment of happiness when you build a house for homeless people and bless the house and give them the key; you see such happiness in their eyes. And becomes of them you become the happiest person.”

In November, Archbishop Aykazian will be installed as the president of the National Council of Churches during a ceremony to take place in St. Vartan Cathedral in New York City.

"Despite being one of the smallest churches in the United States, we are one of the most important churches in the ecumenical movement. We are the leaders," he said. "That is because of you."