NEW YORK, NY - The Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA) recently held its annual Armenian Service Program (ASP). The ASP allows young Armenian Americans to travel to Armenia to engage in volunteer work and visit national and religious sites. This year's trip included 15 participants from throughout the Eastern Diocese and was led by Rev. Deacon Aren Jebejian, Deacon-in-charge at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church in Chicago. Having led several groups in the past, and having lived in Armenia for two years while studying in Etchmiadzin, he provided valuable insight to all of the participants. The trip began on June 28 and lasted four weeks, two of which were spent helping at a camp for orphans. The pilgrimage began at St. Leon's Church in Fair Lawn, NJ where the participants gathered for a daylong orientation. The orientation allowed the group to get acquainted, to learn about what to expect from the trip and from Armenia and to pray together. That evening, they departed form Newark, NJ and landed in Zurich, Switzerland. During an eight-hour layover, the group toured the beautiful city before departing for Yerevan.

Arriving in Yerevan on the morning of Friday, June 30, the group proceeded to the Ani Plaza Hotel where they spent the next several days getting acquainted with their new surroundings. They visited many important sites in and around Yerevan, including the new cathedral being built in Yerevan for the 1700th anniversary celebration of Christianity in Armenia. They also visited Mayr Hyrenik (Mother Armenia), a large statue situated upon one of the high parts of Yerevan that offers a great view of the city. The group then continued to the Genocide Memorial and prayed for the 1.5 million souls who died at the hands of Turkish Government. This was a very solemn moment for all of those on the trip.

The following Sunday, the group participated in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at Holy Etchmiadzin. After the service, the participants had an audience with his Holiness Karekin II who welcomed them to Armenia and gave his blessings. They were also given a tour of the museum in Etchmiadzin and traveled to the Sardarabad Monument. The next day, the group left for Camp Siranoush and stopped at Khor Virab to visit the pit where St. Gregory was held.

Co-sponsored by the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) and the diocese of Siunik, Camp Siranoush is located in the Vayats Dzor region of Armenia, southeast of Yerevan. During three-month-long sessions, orphans from throughout Armenia come to escape their difficult lives and are given a chance to enjoy themselves. Many of the children have lost their fathers in the war in Karabagh. The group arrived at the camp a few days before the children and assisted in preparing for the children's arrival. The members of the group served as counselors for 130 campers and assisted the local staff with daily activities. The counselors played soccer and other sports with the children, supervised arts and crafts, and offered lessons in Christianity. Evening activities included talent shows and lots of dancing and "kef'. Both the children and ASP participants enjoyed their time together at camp.

Towards the end of their two-week stay at camp, the group distributed the many goods they had shipped from the United States, including clothing, toys and medical supplies. Over $6,000 was raised by Nellie Yeretsian, a past participant of the program, who ran the New York Marathon in an effort to raise money for the trip. Monies and other supplies were also generously donated by private companies and individuals from all over the United States.

The group also had the opportunity to travel to Vayk and witness the ceremony of the consecration of the cross for a new church being built there.

They visited several other churches throughout the region as well. Following their tour, the group was invited to lunch with Archbishop Apraham Mgrdichian and Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, as well as the mayor of Vayk.

While at the camp, the group also celebrated the birthdays of two of the participants of the trip. During the last night at camp, the participants performed a talent show for the children which included a magic show, singing and a piano performance; this was followed by a bittersweet final night of dancing. Saying goodbye the next day was difficult for both the children and the group.

Upon their return to Yerevan, the group met with several members of the local press which resulted in two national newspapers publishing stores about the ASP Trip. The group's second stay in Yerevan was also full of activity. They visited the children's hospital at Yerevan State University and were amazed at the high level of care available despite a lack of resources.

The group later visited and toured the Madenataran, the manuscript depository, and saw firsthand how ancient manuscripts are restored.

The group also visited the nurseries of the Armenia Tree Project, sponsored by the Armenian Assembly of America. The program funds and oversees the planting of trees throughout Armenia to help make up for the massive amount of trees cut down and used for fuel during the fuel shortages of 1991 and 1992. Later in the day the group visited the tomb of Mesrob Mashdotz, the inventor of the Armenian alphabet. The group traveled to Gumri, the second largest city in Armenia, and was able to see firsthand the damage caused by the 1988 earthquake. The city has largely not recovered from the earthquake and much of devastation was still very visible. From Gumri, the group traveled to a point where they could see the ancient city of Ani, which now lies in Turkey. Although the city was in ruins, the beauty of the many churches of Ani was readily apparent.

The year's ASP participants were also given the unique opportunity to travel to Karabagh by helicopter. In Shushi they met with Archbishop Barkev Martirossian, a great leader in the Karabagh struggle who is seen by many as a national hero. He is now working to build churches and schools throughout the region. He sat down with the group, recounted the struggles of Armenians in Karabagh and entertained questions. After being his guest for a meal, the group was given a tour of both Shushi and Stepanakert, the capital city.

In Shushi, there was still a lot of damage from the war, which demonstrated how hard the Armenian people had to fight to maintain their homeland and their faith. One of the highlights of the excursion to Karabagh was seeing the main church of the city that was destroyed several times throughout history and had been rebuilt. This also was a testament to the strong faith of Armenians living in Karabagh. In contrast to Shushi, Stepanakert showed very few scars even though it was devastated by the war just a few years ago. After spending several hours in Karabagh, the participants headed back to Yerevan and enjoyed a bird's-eye view of the monastery of Datev on the return flight.

The last several days of the whirlwind experience involved seeing more sites, including Garni, the only standing pagan temple in Armenia, and Geghard, a monastery carved out of the side of a mountain. The group visited Holy Etchmiadzin for their last Divine Liturgy in Armenia and was able to meet with and say goodbye to the Catholicos, who praised their good work at the camp. He also advised the group to keep Armenia in their hearts after they return to America. That afternoon they traveled to Lake Sevan to visit a monastery and, of course, to swim in the lake's refreshing blue waters.

On their final day in Yerevan, participants did some last-minute sight-seeing and shared their final meal together. After another grueling flight, the group landed in Newark and cherished their last moments together before returning home. Their prolonged final good-byes and teary eyes proved how this group of 15 strangers grew together as a family and experienced an opportunity of a lifetime.

"My return to Armenia really shed light on how I had changed and how much my love for Armenia had grown," remarked Dikran Callan, a participant from Detroit, MI. The Armenian service program afforded these young Christian American Armenians a unique opportunity to not only travel throughout Armenia, but also to serve their fellow Armenian brothers and sisters, increase their spiritual faith and strengthen their love for their homeland. For information about participating in next year's trip please contact Karen Khatchadourian, ASP Committee Member, (201) 768-2580.