Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan visited St. Sarkis Church in Charlotte, NC, over the weekend of February 15-16, to mark the parish’s Name Day and its 20th anniversary.
The St. Sarkis faithful welcomed Bishop Mesrop on Saturday with a traditional Bread and Salt ritual, before entering the church for a short prayer service. The Primate met with the Women’s Guild, Armenian School, ACYOA, and the Parish Council.
During the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, Bishop Mesrop presented pastor Fr. Norayr Kazazian with a lanjakhatch (pectoral cross), conferred by His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, for Fr. Norayr’s years of service to the Armenian Church.
The Primate also conferred the four Minor Orders of Acolyte on 10 young altar servers: Cole Tashjian, Levvon Ayvazyan, Shant Bedrosian, Aram Krajekian, Dante Bedrosian, Narek Hareyan, Erick Zolotaryov, Derek Davtyan, Gabriel Aslikyan, and Garik Nalbandyan.
Bishop Mesrop’s homily on the love of God for humanity, and his blessing on the faithful, concluded the service.
At the celebratory banquet that followed, some 150 parishioners and guests gathered in the church hall. Joining them were Diocesan Council member Dr. Garo Garibian and his wife Cecilia, as well as Mariam Khaloyan and Davit Melikian of the Armenian Assembly of America.
Award plaques were presented to 15 dedicated parishioners, in recognition for their decades of service to the church.
A final award went to Dn. Serop Krajekian, to express gratitude and congratulations as he departs the Charlotte community. Dn. Serop served the parish through the difficult pandemic period, providing for the spiritual needs of the faithful, and is currently scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood and take up the pastorship of St. Sahag Church in Minnesota.
Click the following link to view an extensive photo gallery of the weekend.