On Friday, February 11, 2000, the Republic of Armenia’s new Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Arman Kirakossian, visited New York’s St. Vartan Cathedral complex, headquarters of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.
During a long luncheon meeting with the Diocesan Primate, His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Ambassador Kirakossian was accompanied by His Excellency Movses Abelian, Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Also in attendance was His Grace Bishop Vicken Aykazian, the newly appointed Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Officer.
Archbishop Barsamian welcomed Mr. Kirakossian and conveyed his blessings and best wishes to him in his new role as ambassador. In a brief overview of the 102-year history of the Armenian Church of America, the Primate noted that the Armenian Church has always supported the culture and national aspiration of its faithful people. Through the efforts of numerous individuals in parishes throughout the Diocese, Armenia’s faith and culture have been preserved and developed on the shores of America. Indeed, as a kind of "fortress" of the Armenian identity, the Diocese has provided strong and continuous support to the homeland.
Ambassador Abelian—who has been a part of Armenia’s diplomatic corps in the U.S. since the earliest days of the independence period—reminded the group that the Diocesan Center had opened its doors to Armenia’s official representatives even before the establishment of the Republic. For the first two years of the Republic’s existence, the Diocesan Center in New York was home to Armenia’s UN embassy—making it the first foreign embassy of Armenia.
Archbishop Barsamian rejoined that the center had been privileged to welcome both of Armenia’s Presidents—Levon Ter Petrosian and Robert Kocharian—as well as many other dignitaries from Armenia and Karabagh. And through the Fund for Armenian Relief, the Diocese has maintained a tangible presence in the homeland, and has distinguished itself as the number one provider of support and developmental aid to the country.
Ambassador Kirakossian expressed his joy at being received by the Primate at the Diocesan Center. Noting the history of cordial and supportive relations between the Diocese and the Armenian Embassy in Washington, Mr. Kirakossian assured the group that this relationship would continue. To that end, he was pleased to see that the Diocesan Legate’s office in Washington, DC, will be fortified and expanded under Bishop Aykazian’s direction.
As a token of appreciation, the Primate presented Ambassador Kirakossian with a copy of The Torch Was Passed, the narrative history of the Armenian Church of America published during 1998’s Centennial year. He then led the diplomats on a brief tour of the cathedral complex.
