The 2002 Diocesan Annual Report The Armenian Church:  A Living Liturgy  highlights important Diocesan programs and recent key events.  It describes ways each Armenian can become more involved in the Church.  Also we recognize the many generous donors who supported the Diocese in the past year.

To order a printed copy of the Annual Report, send email to info@armenianchurch.org, or make a gift online today

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A Message from the Primate:

Bringing Faith to Life--Every Day

Our Diocese observed the year 2002 as the "Year of the Holy Badarak." Our local parish programs, educational activities, institutional gatherings and publications were all coordinated around this theme. We explored the ways our Divine Liturgy has inspired the Armenian people down through the centuries. More importantly, we saw how it continues to enrich our lives today.

The badarak is our perpetual reminder--our greatest evidence, really--that the Lord is close to us at all times. Every Sunday He draws us together, unites us in His Body and Blood, and sends us forth to accomplish His will.

In the following pages, you will see how the Diocese worked last year to make the badarak a more central part of every Armenian Christian's life. Those efforts will continue into the future, of course. But for the present year, our thematic focus has changed.

We are calling 2003 our "Year of Communication: Reaching Out and Bringing In"--and we're already concentrating on broadening the circle of the Armenian Church "family."

Several of the most promising seeds of this outreach effort were planted last year, and figure in this report. New Armenian churches were established in several growing communities, with one city--St. Paul, Minnesota-- opening its very own sanctuary.

Innovative programs on Armenian culture and religious education, developed by the Diocese, were held with greater frequency--and with greater numbers of participants--on our regional and local parish levels.

Our powerful compact disc recording of the Divine Liturgy has proved a runaway "bestseller" across the generations, appealing to regular churchgoers and opening the door to new members.

Perhaps our most effective outreach initiative--and certainly one of our most vital investments for the future--is our website: www.armenianchurch.org. In less than a year, it has become an indispensable resource for the Armenian Church community, and has seen a dramatic increase in the number of visitors--regular and first-time users--logging on each day.

I should add that this Annual Report--sent out to 55,000 households across our Diocese--is itself part of our effort to reach out to a growing public, and invite all our people into the loving fold of the Armenian Church.

That is the invitation I want to extend to you today. Do you want the Armenian Church to be a significant part of your life? Then read this report. Log onto our website. Worship at your local parish, or make an appointment to chat with its pastor.

But most important of all: get involved in the life of the Armenian Church. In this "Year of Communication," our Diocese is reaching out to all the diverse segments of our community. Whether you're a fourth-generation Armenian American, or a recent immigrant to these blessed shores, we want you to know that the Armenian Church is your home.

Our goal of reaching out and bringing in won't be accomplished, without you. So if you've been thinking about joining a parish, this is an ideal time to do so. And if you're already a faithful member, you might consider an even deeper involvement in our church.

Whatever path you're on, may our Lord guide your steps; and may He always bless you and your loved ones.

With prayers,

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian

Primate

 

See Volume I of the Annual Report