Month: April 2025

By Rev. Fr. Vart Gyozalyan

We are thrilled to announce that, from May 1-3, 2025, our parish will host the Annual Clergy Conference and the 123rd Diocesan Assembly, a momentous occasion that will bring together clergy, delegates and faithful from across our Diocese. This year’s theme, inspired by the Gospel of John 13:34, is “Love One Another.” These words of Christ remind us of the transformative power of love in building a stronger Christian community and deepening our faith in God.

The Clergy Conference and Diocesan Assembly will serve as a time for reflection, prayer and planning for the future of our Diocese. As St. Paul writes, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10). In the spirit of these biblical teachings, we gather to renew our commitment to Christ and one another as we celebrate our faith and heritage.

At the same time, the Women’s Guild Assembly, organized by the Women’s Guild Central Council, will be held and hosted by the Holy Archangels Women’s Guild. This important gathering will bring together women from across our Diocese to strengthen their bonds of fellowship, share ideas and celebrate their vital role in the life of the Armenian Church.

Delegates and attendees will also have the opportunity to visit our newly consecrated sanctuary and Family Life and Cultural Center, as well as see our traditional Armenian tonir. They can partake in the unique experience of enjoying freshly baked lahmajun and jingalov hats prepared directly from our tonir, a testament to our rich culinary traditions and warm hospitality.

A highlight of the gathering will be the gala banquet on Friday, May 2, during which we will honor two remarkable individuals who embody the spirit of Christian love and service. 

James Kalustian will be honored as “Armenian of the Year.” A devoted servant of the Armenian Church and a champion of our culture and traditions, James has worked tirelessly to promote the Armenian heritage. His dedication reflects the words of the Apostle Peter: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10).

Rev. Fr. John Delaney, Pastor of Sacred Hearts Parish in Bradford, MA, will be recognized as this year’s “Friend of Armenians,” a title reserved for those who have shown unwavering support for our community. His genuine care, friendship and collaboration with our parish have been a blessing to us all.

Following the banquet, a dance will take place that is open to the public (as is the banquet).

We encourage all attendees to carry the spirit of “Love One Another” into their lives, families and communities. As our Lord Jesus Christ teaches, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). May this gathering serve as a beacon of light, uniting us in faith and love as we journey together in service to our Lord and Savior.

Let us join together in prayer and fellowship, looking forward to an inspiring week filled with God’s grace, Armenian hospitality and the joy of being in communion with one another. May we continue to honor our heritage and build a future rooted in faith, love and service.

Registration has opened. For more information, please visit https://www.hyepointearmenianchurch.org/ 

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Modernisation of Armenia’s economy

In January–February 2025, Armenia’s foreign trade turnover was 52% lower than in the same period the previous year. According to the Statistics Committee, both exports and imports dropped significantly. Industrial output also declined.

At the same time, the economic activity index rose by 4.1%, driven primarily by growth in the services and construction sectors. Economist Armen Ktoyan analyses the current state of Armenia’s economy and offers forecasts and recommendations. In particular, he believes that in the near term, the focus should be on improving the competitiveness of Armenian products in foreign markets.

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Decline was not unexpected

When asked whether the drop in Armenia’s foreign trade figures was linked to the fall in re-export of Russian gold, Armen Ktoyan replied:

“The gold re-export factor is indeed relevant, but not solely in the context of the Russia–Ukraine war. It has a significant impact on the figures for both Armenia’s foreign and domestic trade, as well as on specific industrial sectors. Essentially, we are seeing low or even negative growth across all sectors directly or indirectly tied to precious metal operations and trade.”

According to the economist, the decline in export and import volumes was no surprise. A significant downturn had already been anticipated during discussions around the 2025 state budget.

Ktoyan noted that a similar trend was observed in January–February of the previous year. Export figures were high only for precious metals, while no growth was seen in other categories:

“In the case of imports, the situation was similar. Volumes were even lower than current import figures for precious metals. In the first two months of last year, growth in manufacturing and basic metal production was equally sluggish.”

He added that industrial growth in 2024 had been driven largely by metal production — with gold playing a major role.

“Double-digit growth in trade was driven by wholesale trade, where gold again held a major share. Now we’re seeing a downturn in all of these areas — manufacturing, exports and imports. There is some moderate growth in wholesale trade,” he said.

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“Shock effect will diminish”

The expert describes the impact of the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war on Armenia’s economy as a “shock effect,” noting that even if it initially brought some positive outcomes, it may eventually turn negative.

“The impact of the shock on Armenia’s economy will gradually decrease. Economic growth will return to its potential level,” he believes.

Armen Ktoyan is confident that while the Russia–Ukraine war will continue to affect Armenia’s economy, the influence will be less pronounced:

“The scale of impact won’t be what it was during the early months of the conflict or the first year and a half.”

At the same time, he emphasises that the war has also negatively affected Armenia’s traditional areas of economic activity. For example, as a result of the war and sanctions imposed on Russia, the Russian rouble has depreciated — making the Russian market less attractive for Armenia. Consequently, exports of certain traditional goods to Russia have declined, although the economist did not specify which products were affected.

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Services and construction helped sustain economic activity

In January–February 2025, the services sector (excluding trade) grew by 12.4%, while construction rose by 12.2%. These two sectors played a key role in maintaining overall economic activity.

As for the impact of the Russia–Ukraine war on Armenia, the expert notes that it goes beyond re-export. It is also reflected in the economic activity of Russian relocants who have settled in Armenia, as well as in the demand they generate, particularly in the services sector.

“At the same time, we must also acknowledge that Armenia’s economy has its own potential and capacity for growth — and that factor is also playing a role,” he stressed.

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Overarching goal — boosting competitiveness

The expert believes that Armenia’s overarching goal should be the modernisation of its economy and an increase in competitiveness:

“If such a strategy is developed and consistently implemented, the economic indicators will follow.”

Ktoyan argues that certain steps and measures are essential for a qualitative breakthrough and economic progress:

• investment,
• modernisation,
• upskilling of human capital,
• and expansion of physical capital.

However, he sees little effort being made in this direction:

“We need to move beyond this sense of complacency and try to understand which resources are underutilised or inefficiently used — and what needs to be done to use them more productively.”

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