[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 43 (Tuesday, April 19, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 STATEMENT OF WELCOME FOR ARCHBISHOP KHAJAG BARSAMIAN, PRIMATE OF THE 
           EASTERN DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH OF AMERICA

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, it is for me a great honor to welcome 
Archbishop Barsamian, primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian 
Church of America, to offer the opening prayer today. As primate of the 
largest Armenian Church diocese in the Armenian diaspora, the 
archbishop has been for many years one of the great leaders of the 
Armenian community in the United States and throughout the world. He 
has helped to bring together Armenian religious communities from all 
over the world and assisted in the organization of new parishes. 
Through his work with a variety of ecumenical organizations, he has 
become a spiritual leader known and admired by people of all faiths.
  His Eminence was born on July 4, 1951, in Arapkir, Turkey. At the age 
of 13 he began his religious studies in Istanbul, and was later sent to 
Jerusalem to study at the Seminary of St. James Armenian Patriarchate. 
Since his ordination in 1971, he has continued his religious studies in 
Europe and the United States. He has also taught, lectured, and 
conducted extensive research at St. John's and New York Universities, 
as well as at universities and institutions in Italy, England, Germany, 
Armenia, and Israel. The archbishop has also participated in symposia 
and seminars in many countries, and has published articles in 
educational bulletins and scholarly journals. He is currently a member 
of the International Society of Liturgical Studies and a member of the 
teaching faculty at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in New Rochelle, NY.
  Education and community building have always been among Archbishop 
Barsamian's top priorities--in his earliest days as a priest, in fact, 
when he organized Armenian classes for the children of the Armenian 
communities in Israel, and brought Armenian children from the interior 
of Turkey to Israel to supervise their education. Since his arrival in 
America, he has served in Worcester, MA, New York City, and 
Minneapolis-St. Paul. He has attended meetings of the World Council of 
Churches in the United States, Greece, Switzerland, and the Soviet 
Union. He has also represented the diocese at meetings of the Appeal of 
Conscience Foundation and Religion in American Life, and in 1990 he was 
elected vice chairman of the board of Religion in American Life.
  In short, Mr. Speaker, Archbishop Barsamian has been a great 
spiritual leader, scholar, teacher, and community leader for more than 
two decades. It is an honor for us to have him here in the Chamber, and 
on behalf of all the Members I would like to extend a heartfelt welcome 
to Archbishop Barsamian to our Nation's Capital and thank you for 
delivering the opening prayer here today.

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