NEW YORK, NY—Ecumenical friends gathered at the offices of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America in New York on Friday afternoon, May 4, to offer congratulations to the Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of his ordination.

On the eve of the three celebratory banquets in various parts of the northeast and Midwest, many of His Eminence’s ecumenical friends came to personally convey their congratulations. The guests enjoyed a sumptuous buffet of Armenian delicacies and the company of their brothers and sisters in Christ.

Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, the Prelacy’s Vicar General, welcomed the guests with brief remarks on behalf of the Religious and Executive Councils of the Prelacy. “I would like to welcome you here this afternoon to honor a humble servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, a servant who has faithfully manifested the talents entrusted to him as a zealous priest, an inspiring teacher, an insightful theologian, an active ecumenist, a self-educated church musician, a skillful translator of the Holy scriptures, and most importantly a shepherd mirroring the image of the one and true Good Shepherd.”

Noting that he did not want to take time away from personal interaction of the guests, Bishop Anoushavan told one story which he said embodies the personality and character of the honoree. “As some of you know, Archbishop Oshagan was the Prelate of Kuwait and the Arab Emirates prior to his current service in the United States. At the time when Iraq invaded Kuwait, he was on vacation in New York. As soon as he heard the news, he was determined to return to Kuwait immediately.” The Vicar remembered how everyone tried to convince him not to go back because of the danger, not to mention the difficulty of traveling to Kuwait, but he had made up his mind. “I need to be with my flock,” was his only answer, and he flew to the Middle East and found a way of entering Kuwait by land.

Archbishop Oshagan thanked the many guests who were in attendance. “Thank you for taking the time out of your hectic schedules to come here this afternoon and express your Christian love and unity.” He noted that he has come to know many of them through ecumenical services, meetings and conferences. “Our friendship grows stronger and I look forward to the future enrichment of our friendship and cooperation in our mutual service to our Lord.” His Eminence noted how much he has gained through his participation in the worldwide ecumenical movement since the earliest days of his service. He said that he continues to be guided by the words of St. Paul, “Therefore, be steadfast, immoveable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Attendees included leaders of the Armenian Catholic Exarchate, Armenian Missionary Association of America, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the World Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches, General Theological Seminary, Assyrian Church of the East, Catholic Near East Welfare Association, The Episcopal Church, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, Eparchy of St. Maron of Brooklyn, Orthodox Church in America, , Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Salam Arabic Lutheran Church, St. Vladimir Orthodox Seminary.

In addition many letters of congratulations were received from various parts of the country congratulating Archbishop Oshagan on his milestone anniversary.