St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral Priest
The Very Rev. Fr. Sooren Chinchinian was born in Zahle, Lebanon. He received his preliminary education in the local Balekjian National School, and later travelled to Nicosia, Cyprus, where he studied at the Melkonian Educational Institute, from which he graduated in 1952.
He has served as the pastor of the Holy Shoghagat Armenian Church of Belleville, IL, the St. Gregory Church of Binghamton, NY, and the St. Gregory of Narek Church of Richmond Heights, Ohio.
In 1990, he began to serve at the Diocesan Center, doing translation work and explaining the doctrine of the Armenian Church to visitors of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral.
VERY REV. FR. SIMEON ODABASHIAN
Diocesan Vicar
The Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian was born in Boston. In 1988, he received his Master of Divinity degree from St. Vladimir's Orthodox and St. Nersess Armenian seminaries, and pursued Armenian Church studies for two years at the seminaries of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and of the Mother Holy See of Etchmiadzin.
Fr. Simeon's first assignment was as the assistant to the pastor of the Church of Our Saviour in Worcester, MA, after which he was called to be deacon-in-charge of St. Gregory of Narek Church in Cleveland, OH.
On December 1, 1996, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, ordained Fr. Simeon as a celibate priest at St. Gregory of Narek Church in Cleveland, OH, where he continued as pastor until September 1999. In addition to leading the Cleveland community, he served as visiting pastor to the mission parishes in Columbus, OH, and Erie, PA.
In October 1999, Archbishop Barsamian called Fr. Simeon to a new ministry as coordinator of the Diocese's Mission Parish Program, overseeing communities of Armenians too small for their own regular church building or services. In addition, Fr. Simeon served as the chaplain and instructor of practical liturgics at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary.
In January 2004, Fr. Simeon resumed parish ministry when he became the pastor of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence, RI. On January 1, 2011, he was named as Vicar of the Eastern Diocese.
REV. FR. TATEOS ABDALIAN
Director of Mission Parishes
The Rev. Fr. Tateos R. Abdalian was born in Watertown, MA. He earned a Master's of Divinity degree after completing studies at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary and St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in New Rochelle, NY, as well as Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary in Boston, MA.
Fr. Tateos was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Torkom Manoogian in June 1984 at Holy Trinity Church in Cambridge, MA. Since then, he has served as pastor at the St. John the Baptist Church in Greenfield, WI, St. Peter Church in Watervliet, NY, Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church in Providence, RI, and St. George Church in Hartford, CT, where he also served as an on-call chaplain at Hartford Hospital and as a Police Chaplain with the Hartford Police Department.
Since September 2007, Fr. Tateos has been Director of the Mission Parish communities of the Eastern Diocese, where he is responsible for overseeing approximately 20 communities. Fr. Tateos has created new opportunities for growth and expansion in these parishes, including the establishment of the first ever Virtual Sunday School Program launched in 2009. He also serves as a member of the Oriental Orthodox/Roman Catholic Dialogue, a member of the Standing Committee of Oriental Orthodox Churches in America, an instructor at St. Vartan Camp (since 1991) and at the St. Nersess Summer Conferences (since 1981).
REV. FR. MARDIROS CHEVIAN
Dean of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral
Born in Providence, RI, the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian became involved with the Armenian Church at a young age, serving at the altar of his home parish of St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church.
A graduate of Barrington College in Rhode Island with a degree in social sciences, Fr. Mardiros began his studies at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary as a St. Nersess Seminary student in 1973, and received a Master's of Divinity degree in May 1976.
Shortly after his graduation, Fr. Mardiros was ordained a deacon by Archbishop Torkom Manogian, then-Primate of the Eastern Diocese. Over the next two years he studied and taught at the Gevorkian Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin.
He returned to the United States in 1978, serving the next three years as deacon-in-charge of St. Gregory Church in Waukegan, IL. In 1981, Fr. Mardiros became the director of recruitment and vocation programs for St. Nersess Seminary, where he became instrumental in recruiting young Armenian men to the priesthood and in developing the curriculum and programming for the Seminary.
Following his ordination in 1985, Fr. Mardiros continued to serve as the rector of St. Nersess Seminary while taking graduate courses in education at Fordham University. In 1991, he was asked by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, to devote his talents, especially as they related to the youth, to the task of establishing a Department of Youth Ministry at the Diocese. This became the foundation for the department, which continues today.
Fr. Mardiros was named dean of St. Vartan Cathedral in 1994, where he has spearheaded a number of initiatives, including programs to attract members to the cathedral parish, and an outreach effort to assist new immigrants from Armenia and Azerbaijan. In 1999, Fr. Mardiros was elected to the Diocesan Council.
Coordinator of Christian Education
Elise Antreassian received her Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary and St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, and her master's degree in Armenian studies from Columbia University.
She has served as the Christian Education Coordinator at the Eastern Diocese since 1980, in which capacity she oversees Diocesan Sunday Schools, religious publications, and curriculum development. She also conducts adult retreats, seminars, and leadership and teacher training. Elise is a member of the Administrative Board of the Education and Leadership Commission of the National Council of Churches.
NONA BAGHDASARYAN
Data and Information Services Specialist
Nona Baghdasaryan joined the Eastern Diocese in 2004. As the Data and Information Services Specialist, she is responsible for monitoring and updating the Diocese's information database. In addition, she assists with Diocesan mailings, handles returned mail, and processes checks and credit card transactions for the Diocese.
Nona also prepares and sends thank you letters to contributors, occasionally processes credit card transactions for the Fund for Armenian Relief, and assists at the Diocese's reception desk.
MARIA BARSOUMIAN
Assistant to Bookstore, Reception, and Mailroom
Maria Barsoumian was born in Aleppo, Syria, and settled in the United States in 2002. Before moving to America, she attended Aleppo University, where she studied English literature for two years. She is a graduate of the State Music School in Aleppo, majoring in piano.
NANCY BASMAJIAN
ACYOA Executive Secretary
Nancy serves as the Executive Secretary of the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA). A native of Philadelphia, she holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education and psychology, as well as a Master of Divinity degree. She attended St. Nersess, St. Vladimir's, and Eastern Baptist seminaries.
Nancy has served the Diocese since 1979, as co-director of the former Department of Religious Education, director of the ACYOA Juniors, and as program director of St. Vartan Camp.
Nancy was appointed ACYOA Executive Secretary in 2003, and since then has established an ACYOA presence at the Diocese. She is responsible for the organization's administrative operation and for supporting and implementing the goals and programs of the ACYOA Central Council. She is also a member of the Ararat Center Board of Directors.
GILDA BUCHAKJIAN
Coordinator of Armenian Studies
Gilda Buchakjian, a multilingual educator, obtained her education in English, journalism, and political science, and was awarded a teaching certificate in English as a Second Language in her native Beirut, Lebanon. Upon graduation, she worked as the fine and performing arts librarian at the Kennedy Cultural Center of the American Embassy. She earned her master's degree in education administration after moving to the United States, and taught at the William Paterson University Continuing Education Department in New Jersey.
Prior to joining the Eastern Diocese in 2005, she worked at the Eastern Prelacy as director of Armenian education and as the founding editor of the bi-lingual educational quarterly Hye Lezoo. At the Diocese, her duties include curriculum development, implementation, and assessment; hosting professional training seminars and workshops for teachers; overseeing Armenian language learning programs for school-age students and adults; and promoting cultural programs and publications that cultivate the Armenian heritage. She also oversees the Diocese's Khrimian Lyceum and the Mesrob Mashdots Institute.
WILLIAM CASEY
Director of Finance & Administration
William Casey joined the Eastern Diocese in October 2006. He is responsible for the financial books and records of the Diocese, as well as the physical facilities of the St. Vartan Cathedral and the Diocesan Center.
Prior to joining the Diocese, Bill spent 24 years with JP Morgan Chase and its predecessor organizations, where he worked in various business units, most recently as controller for the retail brokerage unit.
Data & Information Services Manager
Angela Kazarian was born in Yerevan, Armenia. She holds a degree from the Yerevan College of Applied Art.
Since 1998, she has been the Eastern Diocese's Data & Information Services Manager, maintaining an extensive database for three organizations: the Diocese, the Fund for Armenian Relief, and the Armenian Church Endowment Fund. She regularly prepares financial, statistical, and annual reports, and arranges for all contributions to be acknowledged.
NUBAR KUPELIAN
Armenian Secretary to the Primate
Born in Cairo, Egypt, Nubar Kupelian received his elementary education in the local Armenian school, before attending the school of the Mekhitarist Fathers. He subsequently traveled to Antelias, Lebanon, where he enrolled at the Seminary of the Catholicate of Cilicia, receiving training to become a teacher.
After graduating, he returned to Cairo and taught Armenian and Armenian-related courses at the Nubarian National School of Heliopolis. He settled in the United States in 1970, where he soon began working at the Eastern Diocese, first as librarian and editor of the Armenian-language monthly The Armenian Church, and then, beginning in 1974, as the Armenian-language secretary and administrative assistant of the Primate.
KHOREN MEKANEJIAN
Coordinator of Music Ministry
Khoren Mekanejian was born in Aleppo, Syria. He studied at the Gevorkian Seminary at Holy Etchmiadzin, where he pursued studies in the theology of the Armenian Church, as well as in philosophy, humanities, and psychology. He also received two master's degrees—in musical conducting and choral singing as well as in symphonic studies—from the Gomidas Conservatory in Yerevan.
Maestro Khoren composed the choral and organ accompaniments to the Khorenian liturgical setting of the Divine Liturgy, which was officially approved by His Holiness Vasken I, Catholicos of All Armenians, and is now in use in churches throughout the world.
In 1997, he was awarded the St. Sahag and St. Mesrob medal along with a pontifical encyclical by His Holiness Karekin I, Catholicos of All Armenians, in recognition of his lifelong dedication and service to the Armenian Church. On his 70th birthday, His Holiness Karekin II presented him with an encyclical and the St. Nersess Shnorhali medal.
JENNIFER MORRIS
Youth Outreach Coordinator
Jennifer Morris holds a B.A. in psychology and elementary education and a Master of Arts in curriculum and teaching. She was a second grade teacher for several years until she assumed the position of Youth Outreach Coordinator at the Eastern Diocese in 2005. She works with the ACYOA Juniors and oversees the Diocesan Summer Camp programs, which include St. Vartan Camp in upstate New York and the Midwest Hye Camp.
Jennifer's involvement in the Armenian Church began as an ACYOA Juniors member, and has remained an integral part of her life over the years. She has served on the executive committee of her home parish ACYOA Seniors chapter, and later served on the ACYOA Central Council for four years.
SUNNY NWAUBANI
Center Facilities Manager
Sunny Nwaubani began working at the Eastern Diocese in 1993. As Center Facilities Manager, he oversees the operations of 630 Second, the Diocesan facility rentals.
Sunny was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and moved to the United States in 1983. Before joining the Diocese, he worked as a production manager with United Pacific Apparel. Sunny graduated in 1988 from Alabama A&M University with a master's in economics.
NAZARETH SALBASHIAN
St. Vartan Bookstore Manager
Nazareth Salbashian was born in Lebanon. He settled in the United States in 1984.
He has been the manager of the St. Vartan Bookstore since 2000. Before joining the Eastern Diocese, he worked in the wholesale clothing business.
MARAL SERCE
Receptionist
Maral Serce has overseen the Eastern Diocese's switchboard for 18 years. A native of Beirut, Lebanon, she settled in the United States in 1981.
In addition to answering phones and greeting visitors, she works with the facilities department and the St. Vartan Cathedral administration, preparing contracts and schedules. Maral also occasionally fills in for the Primate's secretary.
