[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 45 (Thursday, March 15, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   A TRIBUTE TO THE WESTERN DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH OF NORTH 
                                AMERICA

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                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 15, 2007

  Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Western Diocese 
of the Armenian Church of North America upon the celebration of its 
80th Anniversary.
  The Diocese of the Armenian Church was established on July 2, 1898 
under the direction of Khrimian Hayrig, placing all Armenian Churches 
in the United States and Canada under the jurisdiction of the Diocesan 
Headquarters in Worcester, Massachusetts.
  On November 28, 1927, the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church was 
officially established by an Encyclical issued from the Mother See of 
Holy Etchmiadzin by His Holiness Kevork V. Supreme Patriarch and 
Catholicos of All Armenians. The creation of the Western Diocese was a 
response to a continued and vigorous growth of the Armenian community 
in California and the vast distance separating the Armenian Churches in 
the West from the Headquarters in the East.
  From its creation, the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church 
progressed and expanded to serve the Armenian population throughout 
California. In 1928, the newly established Western Diocese consisted of 
five parishes. By 1953, the number of parishes had expanded to eight, 
and an additional three were added by 1957--the year that the Diocesan 
Headquarters relocated to Hollywood.
  The Diocesan Headquarters remained in Hollywood until the 1994 
Northridge Earthquake. Later that year, the Diocesan Assembly decided 
to purchase a new Headquarters. On May 16, 1997 the Western Diocese 
moved to its new Headquarters in Burbank. Today, the Western Diocese is 
the proud owner of a multi-purpose complex where it is currently 
headquartered and will be the future site for the Mother Cathedral.
  In addition to providing places of worship, the Western Diocese has 
made a strong commitment to community service. In 1963, the Diocese 
began to provide youth throughout the community with the opportunity to 
participate in a Summer Camp. In 1967 the Diocese purchased the Alta 
Sierra Camp providing year-round camping facilities for children, 
families, and organizations. The Western Diocese also publishes the bi-
monthly periodical, ``The Mother Church,'' reaching 28,000 people 
worldwide.
  I consider it a great privilege to recognize the Western Diocese of 
the Armenian Church of North America for its eighty years of service to 
the Armenian community and I ask all Members of Congress to join me in 
congratulating the Western Diocese for its remarkable achievements.




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