Current News

22 September 2011

On Sunday, September 18, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate, visited St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn, N.J., where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy and ordained Benjamin Rith-Najarian to the diaconate. Later in the afternoon, the Primate also consecrated a new khatchkar on church grounds, dedicated to all Armenian Christian martyrs.

In his sermon, Archbishop Barsamian spoke about the Diocese’s theme “Ministry of the Faithful,” which parishes across the Diocese introduced last Sunday. He reminded the faithful of Christ’s call to follow him, and touched upon ways that lay people can answer this call, which include joining the choir, teaching Sunday School, serving on the altar, or reaching out to community members who are in need.

“As ministers of our Lord, you are the lamp through which the light of Christ shines on others,” Archbishop Barsamian said.  “You can be the illumination, which shows the presence of Christ in their own lives. And through the power of the Holy Spirit, the people to whom we minister can themselves become part of the Ministry of the Faithful.”

He cited Benjamin Rith-Najarian’s service as an example of a young man following Christ’s call.

“From his earliest examples within his family, to his experiences on the altar, in the seminary, and serving our parishes, Benjamin has been guided, step by step, along a pathway laid out by our Lord,”  Archbishop Barsamian said.

A native of Philadelphia, Rith-Najarian grew up at the St. Sahag Church of St. Paul, MN. He graduated from St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN, with a bachelor’s in natural science and a minor in theology, and pursued graduate studies at St. John’s School of Theology and St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, receiving a Master of Divinity degree in 2010.

Following his graduation, he spent nine months with his wife, Danielle DerAsadourian, studying the Armenian language and the Divine Liturgy at the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. For the next year, he will intern with the Rev. Fr. Diran Bohajian, pastor of St. Leon Church, to strengthen his understanding of parish life in the Eastern Diocese.

“For me, being ordained to the diaconate was a moving experience,” Dn. Rith-Najarian said. “Being deacon is not simply a title, but a new step in my spiritual journey that comes with responsibility and greater opportunity to serve God and the Armenian Church. I am excited to serve in my new role at such an active parish as St. Leon and to learn from a priest as experienced as Fr. Diran.”

Fr. Bohajian said that the entire community was pleased to witness the ordination. Also joining the St. Leon parish last Sunday were the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, dean of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, and the current seminarians.

“The mission of our church continues with a young man coming forward to receive the rank of deacon,” he said. “As a parish priest, it was an honor and a blessing for me to be part of this celebration.”

Referring to the words of Jesus—“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2)—Fr. Bohajian said that the ordination of a new deacon is also a sign that God has heard and answered the prayers of the community. 

“In the brief time I have known Benjamin, I can attest that he is a warm, humble, and faithful son of the Armenian Church,” Fr. Bohajian added. “I will do everything in my power as a priest of this community to make sure that his time here will be fruitful and God-pleasing.”

Also during Sunday’s service, Archbishop Barsamian presented the Diocesan Girl Scout awards to four young girls—Talia Boyajian, Anais Boyajian, Lauren Dadekian, and Mary Tartaglione—who recently completed the program, which is administered by the Diocese’s Department of Youth and Education.
 
Following the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Barsamian led a procession to the parish’s Charles and Grace Pinajian Youth Center, where he consecrated a new khatchkar dedicated to all Armenian Christian martyrs. The khatchkar was donated to the parish by the Leitner family. In brief remarks, Sandra Shahinian Leitner spoke about the importance of erecting such a monument.

Fr. Bohajian said that the khatchkar serves as a reminder of “those who came before us and the enormous sacrifice they made in order to perpetuate our Christian faith.”