I'm off to see Karekin II tomorrow...

[wh00t]

Karekin II will be celebrating the Divine Liturgy tomorrow at St. Gregory's church in Montreal.. hope some of you Montrealers will show up.

[MJ]

Just bringing the thread up, after moving it.

[Pilafhead]

My grandma went to see him when he was in Los Angeles. She that it was wonderful and kissed his robe or something like that. You know how grandmas are, they love that kind of stuff.

[MosJan]

so Haw Was Karekin II ???

[MJ]

PRESS OFFICE

Diocese of the Armenian Church of America

630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016

Contact: Chris Zakian

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

E-mail: prl@armeniandiocese.org

Website: www.armenianchurch.org

 

May 31, 2001

___________________

 

U.S. HOUSE & SENATE PASS RESOLUTION WELCOMING HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II,

HONORING 1700TH ANNIVERSARY

 

Roster of 12 Senators & 22 Representatives Who Met with Catholicos Karekin

During His Visit to Capitol Hill

 

* * *

 

MAY 23, 2001 (WASHINGTON, DC)--To honor the 1700th anniversary of Armenia's

conversion to Christianity, the United States House of Representatives

passed a resolution (with the Senate concurring) welcoming His Holiness

Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, to the United States. The

resolution was passed on May 23.

 

That day's session of congress began with His Holiness delivering prayers

before both the senate and house chambers. His Holiness was also guest of

honor at a mid-day reception held later that same day, hosted by four

congressmen and attended by a several dozen legislators. (Details appear

in previously released story, "His Holiness Karekin II Receives Warm

Reception on Capitol Hill"--May 24, 2001.)

 

The text of the resolution appears below, followed by the roster of 12 U.S.

senators, 22 representatives and two former congressional figures who met

with Catholicos Karekin II on Wednesday, May 23, 2001.

 

* * *

 

107th CONGRESS, 1st Session

H. CON. RES. 139--CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

Whereas the Armenian people have lived in their homeland for more than

3,000 years and created a unique civilization;

 

Whereas two of Jesus Christ's own disciples, Saint Thaddeus and Saint

Bartholomew, introduced Christianity in Armenia and were the original

founders of the Armenian Church;

 

Whereas in 301 A.D., Saint Gregory the Illuminator Christianized the entire

country of Armenia, was consecrated the first Catholicos of Armenia, and

baptized King Drtad of Armenia as a Christian;

 

Whereas in 301 A.D., King Drtad declared Christianity to be the official

religion of Armenia, making it the first Christian state in the world;

 

Whereas Armenian Church leaders opened schools, cared for the sick and

needy, and created alphabets for Armenia and Georgia to make the Scriptures

more accessible to the people;

 

Whereas Armenians' devotion to God led them to create distinctive styles of

manuscript illumination, architecture, sculpture, and textiles, that are

recognized as masterpieces of Christian art and as major contributions to

world art;

 

Whereas the Armenian Church has persevered in its faith throughout the past

17 centuries in cultures that were hospitable to it and others that were

hostile;

 

Whereas the Armenian Church actively participates in ecumenical bodies and

movements, uniting Christians of all denominations world-wide;

 

Whereas more than 100 communities throughout the United States will

celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the acceptance of Christianity in

Armenia with special worship and ecumenical services;

 

Whereas in celebration of the 1700th anniversary, His Holiness Karekin II

will visit the United States;

 

Whereas the 1700th anniversary is an appropriate occasion to celebrate the

ideals and values shared by the people of the United States, the people of

Armenia, and the Armenian Church in America;

 

Whereas representatives of the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths,

including representatives of the Armenian Church, the National Conference

of Catholic Bishops, and the National Council of Churches of Christ in the

U.S.A., will celebrate an ecumenical prayer service on May 30, 2001, at the

Catholic Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on

the occasion of the 1700th anniversary;

 

Whereas the Armenian Church, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops,

and the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. have chosen

the theme 'Walking Together in the Light of Our Lord' as the message to

embrace the ecumenical spirit of brotherhood on the occasion of the 1700th

anniversary; and

 

Whereas the Armenian Church has established parishes throughout the United

States and has contributed to the quality of religious life in this Nation:

Now, therefore, be it

 

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), that the

Congress--

 

(1) congratulates the Republic of Armenia on the occasion of the 1700th

anniversary of the acceptance of Christianity in Armenia;

 

(2) welcomes His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of

All Armenians, on his visit to the United States; and

 

(3) joins with the people of Armenia, the Armenian Church in America, and

His Holiness Karekin II in celebrating the ideals and values they share

with the people of the United States.

 

Passed the House of Representatives May 23, 2001.

 

* * *

 

Listed below are the Congressmen and Senators with whom His Holiness met

during his Washington, DC, visit on Wednesday, May 23, 2001:

 

MEMBERS OF THE U.S. SENATE (12)

 

Senator George Allen (R-VA)

Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD)

Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA)

Senator Carl Levin (D-MI)

Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE)

Senator Jack Reed (D-RI)

Senator Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD)

Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY)

Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL)

Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA)

Senator John Warner (R-VA)

 

 

MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (22)

 

Speaker of the House/Representative Dennis Hastert (R-IL)

Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA)

Representative Shelly Berkeley (D-NV)

Representative Eric Cantor (R-VA)

Representative Joe Crowley (D-NY)

Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA)

Representative Mark Kirk (R-IL)

Representative Gerald Kleczka (D-WI)

Representative Joe Knollenberg (R-MI)

Representative Tom Lantos (D-CA)

Representative John Lewis (D-GA)

Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)

Representative John McHugh (R-NY)

Representative Michael McNulty (D-NY)

Representative Constance Morella (R-MD)

Representative Grace Napolitano (D-CA)

Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ)

Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA)

Representative Christopher Shays (R-CT)

Representative Jim Traficant (D-OH)

Representative Robert Wexler (D-FL)

Representative Roger Wicker (R-MS)

 

 

FORMER MEMBERS OF THE U.S. CONGRESS (2)

 

Former Senator Bob Dole (R-KS)

Former Representative Dr. Robert W. Edgar (D-PA)

 

--5/31/01

 

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: Electronic photos of His Holiness' visit to Capitol

Hill, including pictures of Catholicos Karekin with various congressmen,

may be downloaded from the Eastern Diocese's website: www.armenianchurch.org. Photos are linked to the press release titled "His

Holiness Karekin II Receives Warm Reception on Capitol Hill," posted May

24, 2001.

 

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