On Sunday, December 18, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), visited St. James Church of Watertown, MA, as the parish observed its 85th anniversary and held its annual Name Day celebration. The church is named for St. James, the Bishop of Nisibis, whose feast day fell on December 17 this year.
The Rev. Fr. Arakel Aljalian, parish pastor, celebrated the Divine Liturgy; Archbishop Barsamian delivered the sermon.
At a banquet following services, longtime parishioners Krikor and Nancy Kassabian were presented with the “Parishioners of the Year” award. Former Sunday School superintendent Marsha Alabachian received the parish’s “Service Award” for her decades of service to the Sunday School. The Kassabians and Ms. Alabachian also received the Diocese’s “St. Vartan Award.”