Category Archives: Press Release
FL Armenians Press Release
Armenia Avenue Anyone? The Story of Armenia Avenue in Tampa Bay, Florida
Tampa Bay I-275 Exit 42 Armenia Ave. and Howard Ave. Sign. Photo Courtesy of Yeretzgin Anna Demerjian.
A Series of Fortunate Circumstances
By Dr. George Kamajian
FLArmenians Guest Contributor
Tampa Bay, FL – Florida, our 3rd largest state, has long been underrepresented when it comes to organized Armenians. Sure, there have been Hye’s basking in the Sunshine State for decades. The traditional Interstate-95 corridor from Boston to Miami sprouted numerous colonies of Armenians from Jacksonville to Ft. Lauderdale. Churches soon followed in Miami and Boca Raton with a smattering of a few mission parishes when the Armenian populations were deemed too small to support a church. Although Armenians have made their presence known in Florida business and sports (think Garo Yepremian from the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins) for years, their numbers are still anemic when compared to Philadelphia, Boston or Detroit.
(Also on FLArmenians: Armenian Genocide Billboards on Display in South Florida, Massachusetts)
When the western part of the state opened up with Interstate-75 a funny thing happened. There was an Armenian imprint in Tampa that went beyond anything their brothers and sisters could brag about up north. There, in the middle of downtown Tampa was the landmark Armenia Avenue with a sign as big as any on Interstate-75. A familiar name welcomed weary tourist from up north. How? Who was this powerful, rich or politically connected Armenian that made this happen?
Unfortunately, according to the local historical society Armenia has nothing to do with the name of a road in Tampa.
“Armenia Avenue was actually originally called Armina Avenue,” said Rodney Kite-Powell, Curator of History at the Tampa Bay History Center. Kite-Powell says cigar factories used to line this avenue. There are a lot of streets named after the cigar factories that they were near,” Kite-Powell explained. “And so, the Armina cigar factory was right along Armenia — or Armina — Avenue.”
So how’d we get from A-r-m-i-n-a to A-r-m-e-n-i-a?
“Somewhere along the line, either a sign painter messed up, or somebody just kept consistently messing up the pronunciation, and Armina became Armenia,” Kite-Powell said.
Now for the good news….it’s going to stay Armenia avenue forever.
Dr. George Kamajian is a member of the St. Hagop Armenian Church Parish Council and resides in Indian Shores, Florida.
Armenian Church of South West Florida Raises Funds for Children in Need
By Carole Meghreblian
FLArmenians Naples Contributor
Last month, the Armenian Church of Southwest Florida (ACSWFL) mission parish collected $1,067 as part of the Diocese’s Department of Mission Parishes food drive for children in need.
(Also on FLArmenians: Florida Mission Parish Update from ACSWFL)
The funds were donated to the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Ft. Myers, in memory of the children who were victims of anti-Armenian pogroms in Azerbaijan (1988-89) and the war in Nagorno-Karabagh (1991-1994).
Meg Madzar, Campaign Project Coordinator, Harry Chapin Food Bank & Carol Meghreblian, ACSWFL Parish Council Chairwoman
The Harry Chapin Food Bank serves five counties in southwest Florida: Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee. In 2011, they distributed 15 million pounds of food and other grocery items valued at $24.9 million, to more than 160 non-profit partners who serve more than 30,000 people monthly. This is a first-time collection for the ACSWFL, and they intend to make it an annual event.
Florida Mission Parish Update from Armenian Church of Southwest Florida
Naples, FL – The Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Dean of St. Nersess Seminary celebrated Armenian Christmas with the parishioners of the Armenian Church of Southwest Florida (ACSWFL) on January 13, 2013. He was assisted at the altar by Seminarian student Levon Asdourian, and Deacon Allan Tossoonian of St. Hagop’s Church in Pinellas Park.
The service concluded with the Blessing of Water. Vahan Janoyan served as Godfather of the Cross. A procession then followed into the fellowship hall where Fr. Chevian performed a Blessing of the Home ceremony. Each family received a Nishghark from Fr. Chevian.
The ACSWFL annual bake sale gave parishioners the opportunity to purchase a variety of Armenian breads and desserts on display. A catered dinner followed with parishioners greeting old friends from up north and welcoming new members to the parish.
Sylvia Raubolt was presented a Waterford Cross by Fr. Chevian and Carole Meghreblian, chairperson of the ACSWFL. Mrs. Raubolt was one of the orginal parish council members until her retirement this year.
February & March 2013 Services at ACSWFL
The Armenian Church of Southwest Florida is pleased to welcome the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Director of the Zohrab Center in New York City, to celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, February 3, 2013 at 1:00 pm. A light lunch will follow the service.
On March 3, 2013, at 1:00 pm, Fr. Tateos Abdalian, Director of Mission Parishes will celebrate Holy Badarak. The annual Lenten luncheon will follow.
[See more photos from ACSWFL here]
ACSWFL services are held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 3901 Davis Blvd., Naples, Florida.
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NR#: 2013-03
Photo Caption 1: (L-R): Allan Tossoonian, Deacon, Rev. Mardiros Chevian, Celebrant, Vahan Janoyan, Godfather of the Cross, Levon Asdourian, Seminarian
Photo Caption 2: (L-R): Shirley Yergatian, Tony Akgulian, Diane Akgulian, Julie Couyoumjian
Photo Caption3: (L-R): Parish Council Members Pamela Torosian, Carole Meghreblian, Mariam Tatosian
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