When elected Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy in May of 1998, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan’s first priority was to visit each parish. This involved extensive traveling along the East Coast, the Midwest, and Canada, since in 1998 the Canadian churches were still under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Prelacy.

Certainly, he was no stranger to North America and the parishes therein. Having attended Princeton Theological Seminary for a number of years, and having served the Prelacy in various capacities during those years, he was familiar with the community. Yet, as he recalls now, it was a totally different feeling. “I felt responsible for each of the parishes I visited, and felt a duty toward each and every one of our faithful members.”