Southern Exposure Grows with Expansion in Charlotte and Atlanta

On a bright Sunday, March 28, 300 people watched and deacons and choir members sang psalms, honored stewards washed each stone with wine and water, then wrapped them in clean cloth. The people gathered listened to Bible readings in English, Armenian, and Russian. They felt their spirits soar.

Him Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, led the Armenian community of Charlotte, N.C., that day as they blessed the cornerstones of what will soon be a new Armenian Church—the first ever in North Carolina.

NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY BLESSES CORNERSTONES OF NEW CHURCH

“This historic day for our community is filled with mixed emotions,” said Lena Kupelian Neau, parish council chairman and a driving force behind the mission parish in Charlotte. “There are emotions of joy, happiness, excitement, tears, and even disbelief that this groundbreaking event is actually taking place.”

The new sanctuary is scheduled to be completed and consecrated in January 2005, on the Feast of St. Sarkis. “We celebrate the mystery of God’s miraculous activity in our Armenian community in Charlotte,” said Fr. Daniel Findikyan, visiting pastor for the mission parish.

THANKING THEIR SUPPORTERS

Countless parishioners and supporters have helped the church become a reality. The community is made up of a large number of new immigrants, who followed the example of parish leaders and gave generously.

But one individual was recognized as a key to the realization of the dream. Sarkis Acopian, a devout, successful businessman from Easton, PA, pledged $1.7 million to build the new Armenian Church in honor of his mother, Arax.

He chose to support the parish because its members valued the church, hoped to raise their children in the church family, and found strength in their Christian faith.

“For years we kept praying that God would answer our prayers and enable us to build a spiritual home. We never gave up. We kept our faith and God answered our prayers,” Kupelian Neau said. “I don’t know why he chose Charlotte. I was praying so hard for it to happen; maybe my mother in heaven talked to his mother.”

Mr. Acopian was joined at the standing-room only reception after the blessing by his wife, Bobbye, his son Gregory, granddaughter Shea, and daughter-inlaw Helen, wife of Jeffrey Acopian, and his executive assistant Georgia Harinton.

“All these efforts reached their fulfillment through the generosity of Mr. Sarkis Acopian,” Archbishop Khajag Barsamian said. “The Acopian family has been so very generous to our church, here in America and in our homeland. The Acopians are a wonderful, close, Armenian family, and I’m so happy that they’ve now become a part of this family, of Armenians in North Carolina.”

The entire parish learned of the generous gift on February 8, during the Feast of St. Sarkis. Fr. Findikyan noted that the construction was announced and will be completed on the St. Sarkis name day; that the major donor’s name was Sarkis; and that Sarkis was also the name of the father of two brothers—Zaven and Hagop Touloukian—whose initial matching donations and support allowed the parish to purchase the land for the church four years ago.

HARD WORK STILL AHEAD

While the donation by Mr. Acopian will allow the Charlotte church to be built, the work of the local community is far from over. Community leaders are energetically working to raise a $1-million endowment, to provide a solid financial base for the ongoing operation of the parish.

Seeing Mr. Acopian give so generously—building on the examples set by Mrs. Kupelian Neau, the Touloukian brothers, and many others—will help encourage the community to donate.

Currently, about 100 families are regulars during the monthly badarak and social events hosted by the parish. But Mrs. Kupelian Neau said there are easily another 100 Armenian families in Charlotte that she would like to see more involved. The new church, having regular services, and offering Sunday and Armenian schools will be a major attraction.

GEORGIA LAND PURCHASE GIVES COMMUNITY TEMPORARY BUILDING

The mission parish of Atlanta, Ga., announced in April it has purchased a two-acre lot next to the property it already owned. The parish now has four acres of land for the site of its future church building.

The plot purchased also comes with an existing 3,000 square foot house, which will be used as a temporary community center and place of worship until the church is constructed.

“This is a great moment in the development of the Armenian community of Atlanta,” said Armen Karapetian, chairman of the parish council. “The dream of having our own place was shared by many of us for a long time. Finally it has become a reality.”

The parish has about $50,000 in work it wants to do to its new house building before using it for services. However with community help in the construction work, the final renovation cost could be less.

The house, pictured here with members of the Armenian Church of Atlanta, will become a community center for activities by the parish and it’s chapter of the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA). Parish leaders also hope to use the building for community functions, such as music nights or dinners.

“This building will be used for various organized activities aimed at bringing our youth closer together and preserving our Armenian heritage,” Karapetian said.