[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 13 (Monday, January 28, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E80]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING FATHER VAHAN GOSDANIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 28, 2008

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Father 
Vahan Gosdanian upon celebrating his 10th anniversary of service to the 
Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Fresno, California. Father 
Gosdanian is being honored at the 107th Annual Banquet held on January 
24, 2008.
  Father Gosdanian was born in Beirut, Lebanon. He immigrated to the 
United States in 1986. After his primary and secondary education he 
pursued a career in graphic design. As a graphic designer he owned his 
own business in Beirut. Due to the civil war in Beirut, Lebanon, Father 
Gosdanian, and his wife, Sossie Simonian, immigrated to Los Angeles and 
he continued to work as a graphic designer. However, he always wanted 
to attend seminary school and become a Vertabed. Prior to becoming a 
Vertabed, his religious background included attending Sunday school, 
becoming a Sunday school teacher and principal and alter serving.
  Father Gosdanian began taking classes through the Western Prelacy and 
was ordained into priesthood on March 14, 1993 in Los Angeles, 
California. He was appointed as the pastor of St. Sarkis Armenian 
Apostolic Church in Pasadena, California. While there, he published the 
monthly newsletter and attended to the needs of his parish. To further 
his education, Father Gosdanian attended classes at the Mennonite 
Brothers Bible College.
  In the 10 years that Father Gosdanian has served at Holy Trinity 
Armenian Apostolic Church in Fresno he has implemented many new 
programs. The church now holds an annual graduate banquet to honor all 
Central Valley high school and university graduates that are of 
Armenian descent. The church serves a traditional dinner for Christmas 
Eve and Easter for those that attend the service. He also leads a 
Tuesday night Bible study group and regularly visits the California 
Armenian Retirement Home and other adult day care centers. For the 
Fresno community, Father Gosdanian performs prayers as needed or 
requested by civic leaders and attends prayer breakfasts. He is also 
among a group of pastors that recently joined the prison chaplain 
program.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Father Vahan 
Gosdanian on 10 years of service to the church and the community. I 
invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Father Gosdanian many years 
of continued success.

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