On Saturday evening, April 15, St. Peter Church of Watervliet, NY, hosted a special dinner to express gratitude and admiration to area medical professionals, healthcare workers, and all who work in the healing vocations.
The inspiration for the event came from the experience of Diocesan Primate Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, who was involved in a serious car accident on July 15, 2022. Fr. Mesrop spent almost 11 weeks at Albany Medical Center and Sunnyview Rehabilitation Center in the Capital District of New York. It was during this time of healing that plans started to come together for his homecoming to St. Peter Church. The homecoming would include the celebration of the Badarak, greeting the parish community who journeyed along with the Primate for 11 weeks, and meeting with all the surgeons, doctors, nurses, and physical therapists who cared for the Primate and ministered to his healing.
The unique gathering at St. Peter Church took place on Saturday evening, April 15: nine months to the day since the Primate’s accident. The dinner and reception honored and recognized all Capital District Armenian medical professionals, as well as all those who helped provide care to the Primate.
Dr. Andrew Rosenbaum, who specializes in orthopedic feet and ankle surgery, was the doctor who performed the surgery on Fr. Mesrop’s feet and ankles and was present during the dinner gathering. Dr. Rosenbaum was very moved to see the Primate’s recovery. “It has been a privilege to take care of the Primate,” he said. “Through his hard work and positive outlook, he has made an unprecedented recovery from devastating injuries. His positive outlook throughout his recovery has been beyond inspiring! I am honored to have played a part in his care and look forward to watching him get even stronger with time.”
New Jersey ophthalmologist Dr. Larry Najarian, who serves as president of the Armenian American Health Professionals Organization (AAHPO), took part in the program for the evening and played an important role in Fr. Mesrop’s healing, assembling a team of leading Armenian medical specialists from AAHPO that met weekly to provide insight and guidance to Fr. Mesrop while he was hospitalized.
Albany internal medicine specialist and St. Peter parishioner Dr. Ara Kayayan visited the Primate on a daily basis, and became a personal doctor and counsellor to him during this time of need.
A Spiritual Joy to Witness
Parish pastor Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian shared that it had been a privilege for St. Peter Church to host the recognition dinner celebrating the Primate’s recovery and0 thanking so many surgeons, doctors, and nurses who cared for him. Although Fr. Stepanos was not able to be present due to illness, thanks to virtual technology he was able to address those in attendance. He expressed his gratitude to all the Capital District Armenians who serve tirelessly in the medical field. He was especially thankful to Fr. Mesrop’s surgeons, doctors, and nurses, and was grateful to both Dr. Ara Kayayan and the Armenian American Health Professionals Organization for responding so thoroughly and quickly to the Primate’s needs.
Fr. Stepanos concluded his remarks by sharing how overwhelmed he felt by the gratitude in his heart, and by his thankfulness to God for providing this special miracle for Fr. Mesrop. “It was a spiritual joy to witness the Primate standing on his own two feet, with no brace, no cane, and no support, while he greeted and embraced each of those medical professionals who helped him walk again,” Fr. Stepanos said.
His wife Yn. Paulette Doudoukjian deserves special thanks for coordinating the evening reception, as does Mary Panjarjian and her team of ladies who prepared a splendid meal and Armenian desserts for all to enjoy.
The unforgettable evening provided an opportunity for all to show gratitude for Fr. Mesrop’s remarkable recovery. Dr. Robert Cheney, orthopedic spine surgeon from Albany Medical Center, summed up the evening eloquently: “What an inspiration to see the Primate make such an incredible recovery and to see him on his feet! It’s important to realize that an entire team of medical professionals came together to care for him, and each played a special part in his healing process. It was a personal honor for me to be a part of this fabulous evening, with special gratitude to this church community and to the ladies who graciously prepared the delicious food for the evening.”
To view photos, click here.
Above: Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese (center) with (left to right) Dr. Robert Cheney, Dr. Cory Czajka, Dr. Andrew Rosenbaum, and Dr Lawrence Najarian.