[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 118 (Monday, September 13, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING FATHER DAJAD DAVIDIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 13, 1999

  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to one of the 
most honorable and well-respected individuals in the 8th Congressional 
District of Massachusetts, Father Dajad Davidian. This past Sunday, 
September 12, marks the thirty-first anniversary of Father Davidian's 
arrival to the St. James Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown, 
Massachusetts. Sadly, however, it also marked his retirement, and the 
end of a remarkable career of a man who unselfishly dedicated his life 
to serving his parishioners and his community.
  The son of Rose Davidian, an Armenian Genocide survivor, Father 
Davidian has been a courageous voice in the Armenian-American community 
for many decades. For the last thirty years, he has provided his 
parishioners with strong leadership that has resulted in the church 
playing an active role in various projects to aid the people of 
Armenia. During his tenure, the people of St. James have regularly held 
food drives and other activities that have raised money for the 
Armenian Relief Fund.
  Father Davidian is a man of great tolerance, respect and integrity. 
His strong conviction to love his fellow man is a model that all should 
follow. It is a principle that Father Davidian taught wherever he went. 
Recently, he spoke to students at Watertown High School. The theme was 
``Respect for Differences Day'' and Father Davidian, reflecting on his 
personal experiences with discrimination, set the tone by telling 
students to ``judge the individual, not the group''.
  Father Davidian has dedicated his life to helping others discover 
goodness and the spirit of generosity. He is a man of vision and a man 
of compassion. The impact of his work has traveled well beyond 
Watertown and is felt by countless people around the world. His work 
was truly a labor of love.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with tremendous gratitude that I stand before 
Congress today to honor such a man, and I want to sincerely thank 
Father Davidian for all his service to the community and wish him the 
best of luck in his future endeavors.

                          ____________________