Religious Support Committee
Religious Support Committee
o
Representing Metropolitan Joseph Zahlawi- Antiochian Orthodox Christian
Archdiocese- Englewood, NJ: Father Christopher Eid
o Representing Patriarch Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim- Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch- Eastern United States: TBA
o Representing Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian- Armenian Apostolic Church- La Crescenta, CA: Father Karekin Bedourian
o Representing Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan- Armenian Apostolic Church- New York, NY: Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian
o Representing Bishop Mikael Mouradian- Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg- Glendale, CA: Father Thomas Garabedian
o Representing Bishop Nicholas Samra- Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy- Newton, MA: TBA
o Representing Bishop Mar Barnaba Yousif Habash- Syriac Catholic Diocese in the US and Canada- Bayonne, NJ: Father Nimatullah Abdulmaseeh Butrus
o Representing Bishop Gregory John Mansour- Eparchy of Saint Maron- Brooklyn, NY: Chorbishop Seely Beggiani, Ph.D. & Father Rodolph Wakim
o
Representing Bishop A. Elias Zaidan- Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon- Los
Angeles, CA: Father
Charles Khachan, Ph.D.
Representing Metropolitan Joseph
Zahlawi- Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese- Englewood, NJ:
Father Christopher Eid
Fr. Christopher Eid, was raised in an Orthodox Christian home
and among the clergy of the family for most of his life. Fr. Christopher
attended and served at the Archdiocesan chancery Cathedral of St George in
Syria. Fr. Christopher worked closely
with numerous Christian groups in the Middle East, especially: in Lebanon,
Syria and Jordan, and in North America. With the blessing of the thrice blessed memory His Eminence
Metropolitan Philip, Fr Christopher enrolled in St Vladimir's Orthodox
Theological Seminary where he obtained a Master of Divinity degree in May 2010. After graduation, Fr. Christopher moved to Houston, got
engaged and later the same year married his wife Katarina. Late summer of the
following year, he was ordained to the diaconate on September 8, 2011 and
subsequently (the same week) to the priesthood on September 11, 2011. Immediately following ordination, Fr. Christopher was given
a temporary assignment to serve alongside Fr. Elias Bitar at St George Orthodox
Church in Little Falls, NJ. From
December 2011 to December 2014, Fr. Christopher served at the altar of St
George Orthodox Church in Houston, TX. Fr Christopher is now assigned by His Eminence Metropolitan
Joseph – Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North
America- as the Dean of St. George Orthodox Cathedral in Charleston, WV. Publication in progress: The Antiochian Syriac Pastoral Agreement of 1991
Representing Patriarch Mor Cyril
Aphrem Karim- Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch- Eastern United States:
TBA
Representing Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian- Armenian Apostolic Church-
La Crescenta, CA:
Father Karekin Bedourian
Reverend Father Karekin Bedourian
was born in 1983 in Kessab, Syria with the baptismal name Hrair. He
received his primary education at Usumnasirats National School of Kessab.
In 1995 he enrolled at the Seminary of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, from where
he graduated in 2004. During that time he was a member of the Association
of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) and participated in
numerous religious and youth conferences in Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, Egypt, and
Jordan. He also served within the Prelacy of Lebanon for two years. From
2005 to 2008 he was the Choir conductor at St. Hagop Church in Ashrafieh,
Lebanon, during which he completed courses for Sunday school teachers, youth
Bible studies, and the study of rituals and hymns. From 2006 to 2008 he
followed Pastoral and Theoretical Theology at the Near East School of Theology
(NEST). He was ordained a priest on March 8, 2009 in Kessab, Syria, by
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, and given the pastoral name Karekin in memory
of His Holiness Karekin II of the Holy See of Cilicia, later Karekin I of
Echmiadzin of blessed memory, who was also from Kessab. From October 2009
until May of 2013 he served within the Armenian Prelacy of the Eastern United
States. He studied Theology at Boston College School of Theology and
Ministry From 2011-2013, from where he earned a Master's Degree in
Theology. In July of 2013, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
of the Western Prelacy, appointed him Pastor of Forty Martyrs Church in Orange
County, California. Fr. Karekin resides in Orange County, CA with his
wife Sevan and their two daughters, Megheti and Nareh.
Representing Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan- Armenian Apostolic Church- New York, NY:
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian
Very Rev. Anoushavan Tanielian was born in Beirut, Lebanon. From an early age he showed a great interest in religion and church. He attended the Cilician Theological Seminary in Antelias from 1963 to 1971. He was ordained Deacon in 1968 by Archbishop Karekin Sarkissian, Celibate Priest in 1972, by Archbishop Ardag Manougian, he was bestowed the Fourth Degree of Vartabed in 1974 by His Holiness Khoren I, the Fourteenth Degree of Vartabed in 1988 by Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, Prelate of the Eastern United States and Canada and in 1996 was honored to wear the Episcope Mitre on Feast Days by His Holines Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.
His formal education included degrees in:
- Psychology from Haigazian College 1978
- Masters of Divinity (M.Div.) from Near East School of Theology in 1983
- Masters of Theology (Th.M.) from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1985
- Masters of Philosophy (M.Phil.) from Columbia University in 1992
- Doctoral Studies from Columbia University in 2003
Service to the Armenian Church: Very Rev. Anoushavan Tanielian’s service to the Armenian Church is extensive and covers a span of 30 years. He was served with great dedication in many capacities: Librarian at the Catholicosate, Lecturer at the Theological at the Theological Seminary, Staffbearer to His Holiness Karekin II, he was participated in Ecumenial meetings such as the World East Council of Churches (WCC) and Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), has published articles, translated several Armenian Church Fathers’ works from classical into modern Armenian and has compiled and printed the “Catalogue of the Armenian Manuscripts of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.”
In the United States: He served as Preacher at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Philadelphia from 1984-1987, at Sts. Vartanantz in New Jersey from 1987 to 1988 and St. Sarkis Armenian Church in Douglaston from 1989 to 1991, he was Founder and Director of St. Gregory of Datev Institute since 1987 and religion instructor of Prelacy Siamanto Academy and Hovnanian Armenian Day School.
St. Sarkis Church: In September 1991, Very Rev. Anoushavan Tanielian became the Pastor of St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York. In 1994, he was elected Chairman of the Prelacy Religious Executive Council and the following year was appointed Vicar General of the Eastern United States. He has represented the Prelacy on numerous local, national and international occasions in different capacities. He was a Prelacy Member of the 1700 Anniversary Committee of the Proclamation of Christianity in Armenia and has organized youth pilgrimages to Jerusalem, Lebanon, Syria, Der Zor and Armenia. Very Rev. Tanielian was also appointed as the first Armenian Chaplain of the New York State Police.
As Pastor of St. Sarkis, Very Rev. Anoushavan Tanielian has devoted his attention to strengthening the Parish and creating activities beneficial to its growth and advancement, putting special emphasis on the needs of youth and senior citizens. His goal has always been to serve the Armenian people and its many spiritual, cultural and intellectual needs. Rev. Tanielian has been an exemplary spiritual servant fulfilling his many responsibilities with great dignity, devotion and determination. In 1998, the parishioners of St. Sarkis Church celebrated Father Anoushavan’s Twenty Fifth Anniversary of consecration of Priesthood.
Bishop Anoushavan: In May 2005, Very Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian left St. Sarkis Church and became full time Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy. On June 4, 2006, he was ordained Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.
Representing Bishop Mikael
Mouradian- Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg- Glendale, CA:
Father Thomas Garabedian
Reverend Father Thomas Vartan Garabedian, JCD, was born in Jbeil, Lebanon in 1973. Upon finishing his Philosophy and Theology studies in Rome, Italy and in the USA, he was ordained a priest of the Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg in the USA and Canada in 2003. From 2003-2005, he was the Rector of St. Ann’s Armenian Catholic Cathedral in New York, NY. From 2005-2007, he was Pastor of St. Vartan’s Armenian Catholic Parish in Detroit, Michigan. In 2007, he was named Vice-Rector of the Pontifical Armenian College Seminary in Rome, Italy a position he held until 2011, at the same time pursuing his Licentiate and Doctorate in Canon Law. In 2012, after successfully defending his doctoral dissertation in Rome, he was named Pastor of St. Ann’s Armenian Catholic Church in Flushing, NY. On October 1st, 2014, he relocated to Glendale, CA (the seat of his Eparchy as of 2012,) where he is assuming the duties of Chancellor of the Eparchy, having been named to that position by Most Rev. Mikael Mouradian as of June 2014.
Representing Bishop Nicholas Samra-
Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy- Newton, MA:
TBA
Representing Bishop Mar Barnaba Yousif Habash- Syriac Catholic Diocese-
Bayonne, NJ:
Father Nimatullah Abdulmaseeh Butrus
Reverend Father Nimatullah Abdulmaseeh Butrus was born on November 1st, 1977. He finished high school in Iraq in 1997. He graduated with a BA degree in Philosophy from the College of Arts – Mosul University in 2001.
He joined the community of Saints Cyprian and Justina, Kfifan Monastery where St. Nimatullah Kassab Al-Hardini and St. Stephen Nehme of the Lebanese Maronites were entombed on January 9th, 2004. He made his monastic profession of vows for the Syriac Congregation of St. Ephrem in 2010.
He has a license in Theology (equivalent to the canonical Baccalaureate in Theology) from the Pontifical Faculty of Theology of Holy Spirit University in Kaslik, Lebanon, in 2010.
His Beatitude Mar Ignatius Joseph III Younan ordained him as priest on April 14th, 2011. He is in residence at Our Lady of Deliverance Syriac Catholic Diocese in United States in 317 Avenue E, Bayonne, NJ 07002 since 10/01/2013.
Representing Bishop Gregory John
Mansour- Eparchy of Saint Maron- Brooklyn, NY:
Chorbishop Seely Beggiani, Ph.D.
Chorbishop Seely Beggiani was born in Youngtown, Ohio, in 1935. He completed his undergraduate studies at John Carroll University and Borromeo Seminary in Cleveland, Ohio. His graduate studies were pursued at the Université St. Joseph in Beirut, Lebanon, and the Catholic University of America, where he received his doctorate in theology in 1963. He was ordained to the Catholic priesthood for the Maronite Church in 1961, and he taught undergraduate theology and sacred scripture at St. Johns college in Cleveland and John Carroll University from 1962-1967. Since 1967 Chorbishop Beggiani has been Rector of Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary in Washington D.C., and Adjunct Associate Professor of Religion and Religious Education at Catholic University of America. He was honored with the rank of Monsignor by Pope Paul VI in 1975 and ordained Chorbishop by Archbishop Francis Zayek in 1986. President Gemayel of Lebanon awarded him the National Order of the Cedar in 1988. The author has written a number of books and articles on theology. His most recent work is Early Syriac Theology.
Representing Bishop Gregory John
Mansour- Eparchy of Saint Maron- Brooklyn, NY:
Father Rodolph Wakim
Reverend Father Rodolph Wakim, a native of Lebanon, was born in 1964. He arrived in New York at age 23 and supported himself while studying at Brooklyn College. In 1992, he entered the Maronite Seminary of Our Lady of Lebanon in Washington, D.C. He was ordained in 1996. His first assignment was at St Anthony Church in Falls River, MA. In 1997, he served as pastor of St. Elias Church in Roanoke, Va., for almost 10 years. In 2007, he was transferred to Our Lady of Victory Church in Pittsburgh, PA. where he is still serving today. Fr. Rodolph has a Master’s Degree in Theology. He is fluent in Arabic, French, English and Spanish. He was a chaplain of the Knights of Columbus for over 10 years. He is on the board of the MYO (Maronite Youth Organization). He is the Protopresbyter of the Mid Atlantic West Region of the Eparchy of St. Maron of Brooklyn and a member of the Presbyteral Council.
One of Fr. Rodolph’s favorite quotes: "I shall pass this way but once; any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again”.
Representing Bishop A. Elias Zaidan-
Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon- Los Angeles, CA:
Father Charles Khachan, Ph.D.
Reverend Father Charles Khachan was born in Ebreen, Batroun District, North Lebanon. He joined the Order of the Maronite Lebanese Missionaries in 1992. After receiving a degree in Theology from Holy Spirit University in Lebanon, Fr. Khachan was ordained to the priesthood on July 4, 1999. Fr. Khachan served as administrator of Middle School at Cadmous School in Tyre in South Lebanon between 1999 and 2003. In December 2003 He moved to the United States and served as associate pastor at St. Maron Church in Cleveland, OH until 2006. During that time he received a Master’s Degree in Education from John Carroll University. Between 2006 and 2011 Fr. Khachan served as associate pastor at St. George Church in San Antonio, TX. In 2012 he became pastor of Our Lady of Lebanon in Lombard, IL. In October 2013 Fr. Khachan returned to serve as pastor of St. George Church in San Antonio, TX. Fr. Khachan is finishing his doctoral degree in education at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. Bishop Elias Zaidan appointed Fr. Khachan as coordinator for CLFW/Project Roots for the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles.