RIDGEFIELD, N.J.—Earlier this month, Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ-9) offered remarks for the Congressional Record recognizing the 50th anniversary of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church.
“As pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church and on behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to express our sincere gratitude to Representative Rothman for recognizing the 50th anniversary of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church of Ridgefield,” said Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian.
“We are very proud of our forefathers for envisioning the future and thankful for their unwavering determination to build a church and community center for the Armenian Americans of Bergen County.”
Rep. Steven Rothman was born in Englewood. He received his bachelor’s degree in political philosophy from Syracuse University, and earned a JD at Washington University in St. Louis.
Before beginning his political career, Rothman practiced as a private attorney.
In 1983, Rothman was elected mayor of Englewood and served for two terms. From 1993-96, he served as the Bergen County Surrogate Court Judge. Currently in his seventh term, Rothman was first elected to Congress in 1996. Since his election, he has championed environmental causes, has been a strong voice for working families and individuals, and has worked tirelessly to help ensure proper rights and benefits for the nation’s seniors. His work on the Appropriations Foreign Operations Subcommittee has been essential in advancing Armenian American foreign aid priorities. Additionally, the Congressman serves in the House leadership as Assistant Democratic Whip. He is also a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.
New Jersey’s Ninth Congressional District consists of Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic counties in the northeast portion of the state.
The full text of his statement in Congress honoring the anniversary of the church is below.
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Madam Speaker,
I rise today to honor the 50th anniversary of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church of Ridgefield, N.J.
On May 19, 1957, a community’s dream began to take shape. On that day, ground was broken for what was then known as the Armenian Apostolic Church of New Jersey. In two short years, the Armenian American community of Bergen County came together and raised the necessary funds to realize the dream of building a church.
On May 3, 1959, the church was consecrated by His Eminence Archbishop Khoren Paroyian, Nuncio of His Holiness Zareh I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.
Sts. Vartanantz today stands as a beacon of Armenian American community life in Bergen County with its Sunday School, the Nareg Saturday Armenian School, the ladies’ guild, the men’s club, the seniors’ groups, and several cultural, youth, educational, and fraternal organizations working to perpetuate the Armenian faith and heritage.
I extend my congratulations to the pastor, Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian, the Board of Trustees, and all members and friends of Sts. Vartanantz and wish them many more years of growth and service to the Armenian American community.
I sincerely hope that my colleagues will join me in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Sts. Vartanantz Church for its contributions to the Armenian American residents of Bergen County,
as well the larger Armenian American community in the United States.
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