Columbus Day weekend saw a memorable ACYOA Juniors Sports Weekend , as some 300 ACYOA Juniors (age 13 to 18) and 50 chaperones, representing 18 parishes across the Eastern Diocese, gathered under the theme, “Hye Rooted.”
The weekend began on the evening of Friday, October 10, with visitors arriving at host parish St. Leon Church in Fair Lawn, NJ, for check-in, prayer, and some introductory activities.
On Saturday, October 11, the games began in earnest with classic team sports like volleyball and basketball; individual competitions including chess, backgammon, and ping pong; and a popular new addition: pickleball. The evening saw social activities, a dance, and chances for the youth to mingle.
Saturday was also the day when St. Leon Church was hosting a unique con-celebrated Divine Liturgy, involving six bishops of the Oriental Orthodox churches leading the liturgy together. Among them was Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, who was delighted to spend the day among the young visitors. Many of the ACYOA Juniors were able to take part in the service among the faithful of the visiting sister churches.
On Sunday, the ACYOA Juniors participated in the badarak at St. Leon Church. Fr. Aghan Gogchyan, the visiting Chancellor of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, was the guest celebrant and homilist, delivering a stirring sermon on what it means to be an Armenian Christian in the diaspora, and to hold onto one’s roots. Young souls filled the sanctuary and served at the altar, providing a heartwarming testimony to the Armenian Church’s continuing vitality in America.
Competition resumed after church, with the exciting final matches taking place (see below for the results of the weekend’s games). The awards banquet that evening began with a heartfelt speech from St. Leon ACYOA Juniors chair Aram Chamesian, who touched on the significance of the weekend’s “Hye Rooted” theme. Referencing St. Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians, he emphasized how each member of the church community is unique and individually called to reflect the faith, but each part becomes united in Christ.
Organizing the exceptional weekend was the work of many hands at the host parish, led by St. Leon pastor Fr. Diran Bohajian, parish youth directors Susan Chamesian and Saynik Chilingirian, and a vibrant ACYOA Juniors Board. Bishop Mesrop and the Eastern Diocese express gratitude to everyone involved, for their support, commitment, and ministry to the ACYOA Juniors of our parish communities.
Click here to view photos of the ACYOA Juniors Sports Weekend.
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ACYOA Juniors Fall Sports Weekend (Oct. 10-13, 2025)
PARTICIPATING PARISHES
St. Leon Church, Fair Lawn, NJ (host parish)
Armenian Church of Our Saviour, Worcester, MA
Holy Archangels Church, Haverhill, MA
Holy Martyrs Church, Bayside, NY
Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge, MA
Holy Trinity Church, Cheltenham, PA
Soorp Haroutiun Church, Orlando, FL
St. George Church, Hartford, CT
St. Gregory the Enlightener Church, White Plains, NY
St. James Church, Watertown, MA
St. Mary Church, Washington, DC
Sts. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church, Wynnewood, PA
Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church, Providence, RI
St. Mesrob Church, Racine, WI
St. Sarkis Church, Dallas, TX
St. Stepanos Church, Elberon, NJ
St. Thomas Church, Tenafly, NJ
Sts. Vartanantz Church, Chelmsford, MA
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COMPETITION WINNERS
Team Sports
Boys’ Basketball: St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ
Girls’ Basketball: St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ
Volleyball: St. Mary, Washington, D.C.
Pickleball: Nina Asatrian & Suren Makichyan
Individual Sports
Advanced Backgammon: Armen Avetisyan
Beginners’ Backgammon: David Gevorgyan
Advanced Chess: Vahagn Gyulnazaryan
Beginners’ Chess: Mark Krikourian
Boys’ Ping Pong: Armen Sharoyan
Girls’ Ping Pong: Nina Asatrian
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Samuelian Sportsmanship Award:
Boys category: Allen Arjona
Girls category: Taleen Stephens