AMAA Executive Director/CEO Zaven Khanjian Participates In Venice Conference Entitled “Faith and Works”

Posted on February 11, 2020 By AMAA

AMAA Executive Director/CEO Zaven Khanjian recently participated in a Conference entitled “Faith and Works” held in Venice, Italy under the auspices of the Mekhitarist Congregation and the Western European Patriarchal Delegation of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Conference, held February 7-8, 2020 at the St. Lazarus Monastery, was initiated and organized by the Mother of God Foundation (Yerevan). www.hg-meeting.org

Vartan Karapetyan, President of the House of “Mother of God” Organization

Archbishop Boghos Lévon Zékiyan

L to R: Archbishop Boghos Lévon Zékiyan, Zaven Khanjian and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian

A Press Release from the organizers identifying the purpose, participation and structure follows.

Mr. Khanjian summed up his experience at the Conference as follows.

“I am deeply touched and thankful for the invitation extended by Archbishop Boghos Lévon Zékiyan, spiritual leader of Turkey’s Armenian Catholic Community and the Papal Legate of the Mekhitarist Order in Venice, and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, former Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America and current Pontifical Legate of the Western Europe, to participate in this Conference. The subject of the Conference is so near and dear to my personal life and to the mission of the AMAA. In fact, it has been the raison d’etre of the Association for the past 102 years. I came out of the Conference with a few laudable impressions.

“I commend the organizers’ visionary choice of a most challenging subject generally impertinent to the masses and yet so vital and redeeming for the human race and our people.

Session #3 “Faith Without Works Is Dead” -James 2:26

Session #1: “Faith in the Digital Age”

Session #2: “Challenges of Urban Life”

San Lazzaro Church

“I applaud the exemplary planning and structure of the Conference, which gave way to the full participation and interaction of most, if not all the participants. With varied degrees, all participants were engaged in the discussions.

“I was touched by the spirituality of all the participants and in particular the faithful youth representatives.

“The Conference uplifted my faith and reinstated my confidence that one day my people will not only pride themselves for being the first nation to accept Christianity as their State religion, but also to pride themselves for being pioneers in living that faith every day.

“Finally, a word of appreciation to the President of the Mother of God Foundation, Vartan Karapetyan, whose exemplary leadership and organizational creativity was capped with the promise of next year’s conference.”

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? James 2:14

Archbishops Boghos Lévon Zékiyan and Khajag Barsamian

Zaven Khanjian and Mekhetarist Father Vahan Ohanian

Welcome to St. Lazzaro

Faith and Works Conference in Venice Italy, February 7 and 8, 2020

PRESS RELEASE

FAITH AND WORKS CONFERENCE, FEBRUARY 7-8, 2020
SAINT LAZARUS ISLAND, VENICE, ITALY

Faith without works is dead. James 2:26

A Conference, entitled “Faith and Works,” was held in Venice, Italy on February 7-8, 2020, under the auspices of the Mekhitarist Congregation and the Western European Patriarchal Delegation of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Conference was initiated and organized by the Mother of God Foundation (Yerevan).

In the modern world, the expression of faith and exercising it is an almost impossible challenge. The purpose of this Conference was to form a crossroad of ideas, where through comprehensive discussions, the society is presented with a new vision of living and strengthening faith.

The theme of the Conference was entitled “Faith and Works,” because faith in each person’s life is strengthened and nourished by prayers, and it becomes tangible by works. The suggested location of the Conference was St. Lazarus Monastery, taking into consideration the centuries-old tradition of the latter’s “faith-deed” concept, and the importance of making it sustainable and applicable today.

Representatives of various fields, including clergy, intellectuals, businessmen, as well as representatives of public and charitable organizations, participated in this Conference, and from their own experience presented examples to the issues raised.

The discussions were followed by four thematic sessions, each with its own coordinator, who presented a relevant topic and actively engaged the other participants in. It was proposed that the Venice Convention be held annually.

(Translated from the original Armenian Press Release by Louisa Janbazian)