St. Thomas Church Celebrates 48th Anniversary With Palm Sunday Banquet

By Madlen E. Setian

On Palm Sunday, March 24, the St. Thomas Armenian Church of Tenafly, N.J., celebrated the 48th anniversary of its consecration, honored by the presence of Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern), who delivered the homily and presided over the Divine Liturgy and celebratory dinner.

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PRESS OFFICE

Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)

630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558

E-mail: publicrelations@armeniandiocese.org

Website: www.armenianchurch-ed.net

April 15, 2013

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St. Thomas Church Celebrates 48th Anniversary With Palm Sunday Banquet

By Madlen E. Setian

On Palm Sunday, March 24, the St. Thomas Armenian Church of Tenafly, N.J., celebrated the 48th anniversary of its consecration, honored by the presence of Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern), who delivered the homily and presided over the Divine Liturgy and celebratory dinner.

The banquet began with the procession led by the parish council escorting the Primate, parish pastor the Very Rev. Fr. Papken Anoushian, and honorees Berch and Nishan Turpanjian, recipients of the 2013 "St. Thomas Award."

Before the proceedings began, Fr. Anoushian offered a hokehankisd prayer for the souls of Mateos Barsamian, Gulperi Alaca, Krikor Alaca and Mariam Garipian, in whose memory, Mr. and Mrs. Haci and Nadya Garipian and Mr. and Mrs. Karnig and Ipek Garipian had donated the banquet.

Archbishop Barsamian delivered the invocation, followed by a welcoming toast by parish council chair Dr. Levon Capan. Dr. Capan thanked the banquet chairs for their hard work and generous donations, chef Andy Ouzoonian and his team, and the ACYOA Juniors who served the banquet.

Master of Ceremonies Hagop Vartivarian noted the excellence of St. Thomas' Kirikian Armenian School, congratulating principal Ani Capan for her leadership.

The entertainment portion of the program featured a recitation in Armenian by Nairi Arslan, who recited "Lousavorichi Ganteghuh" by Hovhannes Toumaian. A classical guitar performance by the talented Cindy Mutafoglu followed.

The presentation of the "St. Thomas Award" was the high point of the banquet. Fr. Anoushian warmly described the devotion and dedication of Berch and Nishan Turpanjian, noting the strong faith, prayerfulness and religiosity of both brothers; their weekly presence singing in the choir; and their tireless volunteering on behalf of the church.

Berch and Nishan both extended their appreciation for the award and thanked Fr. Anoushian for helping them to learn and understand the Bible. They presented the pastor with an exquisite hand cross, which clearly touched Fr. Anoushian, who said he would anoint and bless the cross on Easter.

Palm Sunday is designated as ACYOA Day in the Eastern Diocese, and members of the St. Thomas ACYOA Juniors helped serve at the banquet. Juniors Anabelle Cruickshank and Talar Arslanian presented Fr. Anoushian with a $1,000 donation for St. Thomas.

Fr. Anoushian thanked Mr. and Mrs. Alex and Talar Sarafian for being chairs of the Palm Sunday Cake Sale, to benefit the church and its organizations.

He also thanked Mr. Vartivarian, Mrs. Lucy Piligian, and Dr. Levon Capan—all distinguished intellectuals and artists of the parish community. He thanked chefs Andy Ouzoonian, Milt Palakian, and Shahe Jebejian for preparing the dinner, and conveyed appreciation to Haci and Nadya Garipian and Karnig and Ipek Garipian for once again underwriting the expenses of the Palm Sunday banquet. Finally, he thanked Ani Capan for her help organizing the dinner, and Ipek Garipian, Yeghsa Bestepe, and Ani Hamparsumian for baking hundreds of choregs to raise funds for the church.

In closing remarks, Archbishop Barsamian said he was happy to join the parish once again on the day of the celebration of its consecration. He noted that award recipient Berch Turpanjian was born in Dikranagerd, which the Primate had visited in the fall while on pilgrimage to historic Armenia. The Primate said that he had prayed for the resurrection of the Armenian people while in the ancient churches of the Armenian homeland, and added that the presence of the youth and young leadership in the church is an assurance of this resurrection.

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Photos attached.

Photo 1: Seated, from left: Hagop Vartivarian, Dr. Levon Capan, Fr. Papken Anoushian, and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Standing Berch Turpanjian (left) and Nishan Turpanjian.

Photo 2: ACYOA Juniors Talar Arslanian and Anabrelle Cruickshank with Fr. Papken Anoushian.

PublicRelations [publicrelations@armeniandiocese.org]