The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Reverend Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan

Armenian Apostolic Church of America
New York, NY

Sponsor: Rep. David Cicilline, (D-RI)
Date of Prayer: 04/24/2013

One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, as the Representative for Rhode Island's First Congressional District, which is home to many Armenian American families, I am honored to rise today in order to thank His Eminence, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, for offering our opening prayer and for recognizing the 98th anniversary of the start of the Armenian genocide.

A native of Aleppo, Syria, Archbishop Choloyan was first ordained into the priesthood in 1967. He attended the American University of Beirut where he majored in history and later received two master's degrees from the Princeton Theological Seminary. Since 1998, Archbishop Choloyan has served as the prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America and has focused his efforts on strengthening local faith communities under his jurisdiction.

On behalf of the Armenian community in my home State of Rhode Island, I am honored to welcome the archbishop here today and to join him in remembering the victims of the Armenian genocide––the systematic extermination of Armenians living under the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century.

I join members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues in urging that our government finally recognize the Armenian genocide as a historical fact.

Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:

Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Armenian Apostolic Church of America, New York, New York, offered the following prayer :

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Almighty God, we seek Your holy guidance in all our endeavors, especially in the deliberations of our leaders in this noble body, because strong and wise leadership is essential for the well–being of nations.

Today, we are mindful of another April 24––98 years ago, the beginning of the genocide of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, the first genocide among so many that followed in the 20th century.

We beseech You, O Lord, to bless this land of America and its people. Empower them to continue serving Your goodness as they did when they sheltered the remnants of the Armenian nation.

Give Your children wisdom, love, and compassion that they may live and prosper with the gifts of Your Spirit––justice, truth, freedom, and righteousness. Your name will be praised forever and ever.

Amen.

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