Primate Visits Milwaukee Area Church

By David Luhrssen

(Greenfield, Wis.) On Nov. 12, the Primate of the Eastern Diocese, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, conducted Divine Liturgy at St. John the Baptist Armenian Church. His visit marked the 77th anniversary of the parish’s founding. Very Rev. Mamigon Kilidjian, Dean of St. Vartan Cathedral, also took part in the celebration by conducting the church’s choir.

Before his homily, Archbishop Barsamian bestowed Fr. Nareg with a pectoral cross for his many years of service

After the conclusion of Divine Liturgy, the Primate performed the rite of ordination and elevated three of St. John’s acolytes, Robert Auer, Michael Kashian and David Luhrssen, to the rank of sub-deacon.

The anniversary program in the church’s cultural hall included remarks by the Primate and the St. John’s pastor, Rev. Fr. Nareg Keutelian; a performance by members of the Sardarabad Dance Ensemble of Hamazkayin Chicago; talks by young parishioners Eric Kashian and Don Rask about their recent trips to Armenia and Jerusalem; and the granting of the Diane Blinka Service Award to three women of the congregation for their work on behalf of the Armenian Church, Jan Avakian-Kopatic, Shirley Dadian and Nancy Seabrook.