History of the Ararat Center

In January of 2004, after a groundswell of support and years of work by a committee of laity and clergy, the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) purchased the Ararat Center.

Formerly known as Balsam Shade, this retreat facility is nestled on the edge of the scenic Catskill Mountains just 30 miles south of Albany, NY. With its beautiful mountainous view in mind, and to embrace the historic symbolism of Armenia, the facility was named the Ararat Center… a place where the spirit soars.

The site now serves as the permanent home for the Diocese's St. Vartan Summer Camp program. This long-standing, faith and cultural-filled program is attended by hundreds of youth throughout the Eastern Diocese.

The Ararat Center is available for rental to church auxiliaries, local area associations and organizations, sports camps and various other groups large or small. Families may also rent the facility for reunions, vacation getaways, picnics, weddings and more.

Mission Statement

The intent of the Ararat Center is to provide and promote an environment in which Armenian culture and heritage can be celebrated in a variety of ways while also spiritually nourishing generations of Armenian faithful.

The Ararat Center will be a place to remember and honor our ancestors while training leaders for tomorrow and creating memories through Armenian Church-related programs and events.

Additionally, the Ararat Center will be a facility available to other interested groups that wish to utilize its many benefits and services.

Board of Directors

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate
Rose Najarian-Kedeshian, Chairman
Andrea Karanian, Vice Chairman
Jay Kapur, Secretary
Karnig Durgarian, Treasurer / Fundraising
Karen Durgarian, Project Coordinator

Bruce Ashbahian
Edward Belemjian
Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian
Mark Kazanjian
Fr. Vasken Kouzouian
Steve Megrdichian
Kurt Seifel
Pam Talanian-McGrath
Doug Tashjian

Staff

Len Degiovine, Facility Manager
John Manca, Director of Marketing/Reservations & Food Services
Thomas Ashbahian, Special Projects

Volunteers

Contact Karen Durgarian for more information on how to volunteer your time to assist the Ararat Center.

If you cannot volunteer your time, but are interested in contributing towards the improvements at the Ararat Center, please see our Wish List.

Thank you to our dedicated volunteers who have logged in thousands of hours and have saved the Ararat Center nearly $250,000 in labor and donated materials to maintain and improve upon the facility.

20 days and more of volunteer time

• Tom Ashbahian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Andrea Durgarian - Framingham, MA
• Elise Durgarian - Framingham, MA
• Karen Durgarian - Framingham, MA
• Karnig Durgarian - Framingham, MA
• Nicholas Durgarian - Framingham, MA
• Rose Najarian-Kedeshian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Kurt Seifel - Framingham, MA
• Scott Zouranjian - Framingham, MA
  

10 - 19 days of volunteer time

• Adrienne Ashbahian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Carol Ashbahian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Katherine Ashbahian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Barbara Boghosian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Ed Boghosian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Jeri Humphries - Springfield, MA
• Jeff Hyde - Framingham, MA
• Lisa Hyde - Framingham, MA
• Sarkis Kedeshian- Fair Lawn, NJ
• Jonathan Paleaz - Livingston, NJ
• Danielle Seifel - Framingham, MA
• Pam Talanian-McGrath - Watertown, MA
• Michael Zeytoonian - Framingham, MA

5 - 10 days of volunteer time

• Zovig Ashjian - Westchester, NY
• Susan Bablouzian - Framingham, MA
• Ed Belemjian - Watervliet, NY
• Marcus Dalakian - Livingston, NJ
• Yn. Paulette Doudoukjian - Watervliet, NY
• Nancy Hovnanian - Cheltenham, PA
• Steve Hovnanian - Cheltenham, PA
• Barbara Hovsepian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Lori Hovsepian, Fair Lawn, NJ
• Judi Humphries - Springfield, MA
• Daniel Hyde - Framingham, MA
• Jeffrey Hyde - Framingham, MA
• Talene Jermakian - Springfield, MA
• Laurie Karian - Watervliet, NY
• Knar Manoli - Framingham, MA
• Bob Meeson - Watervliet, NY
• Ray Paleaz - Livingston, NJ
• Rita Petithory - Watervliet, NY
• Yn. LuAnn Sabounjian - Framingham, MA
• Lucine Seifel - Framingham, MA
• Talene Seifel - Framingham, MA
• Kevork Voskanian - Framingham, MA
• Lisa Zeytoonian - Framingham, MA
• Alexandrea Zouranjian - Framingham, MAY

3 - 4 days of volunteer time

• Joyce Ariyan - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Greg Ashbahian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Ashley Assarian - Springfield, MS
• Ara Bablouzian - Framingham, MA
• Holly Dadekian - Watervliet, NY
• Seth Derderian - Worcester, MA
• Talene Kachadourian - Boston, MA
• Jeff Masoian - Framingham, MA
• Julie Masoian - Framingham, MA
• Ani Petithory - Watervliet, NY
• Fr. Krikor Sabounjian - Framingham, MA
• David Shahbazian - Kingston, NY
• Nicklas Terkenian - Cheltenham, PA
• Angel Tevan - Watertown, NY
• Michael Tutunjian - Framingham, MA
• Joe Vartanesian - Charlotte, NC
• Parkoohi Voskanian - Framingham, MA
• Nicko Voskanian - Framingham, MA
• Adam Zouranjian - Framingham, MA

1 -2 days of volunteer time

• Greg Ashbahian
• Harry Ashbahian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Janet Ashbahian
• Lauran Ashbahian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Leon Bablouzian - Framingham, MA
• Aram Barkamian - Watervliet, NY
• Erika Belezerian - Springfield, MA
• Dan Blinka - Greenfield, WI
• Diane Boghosian - Springfield, MA
• Elizabeth Boghosian - Springfield, MA
• Arpi Cankar - Tenafly, NJ
• Greg Dalakian - Livingston, NY
• Ed DerAsadourian - New Britian, CT
• Paul DerOhanessian - Watervliet, NY
• Christine DiBianca - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Ara Ekmekjian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Jaklin Ekmekjian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Burt Friedman - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Taline Gebhardt - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Gary Genojoian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Raffi Gulbenk - Trumbull, CT
• Diana Harotian - Framingham, MA
• Liana Harotian - Framingham, MA
• John Harotian - Chicago, IL
• Leon Hovsepian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Brenda Jermakian - Springfield, MA
• Phyllis Jevanian - Watervliet, NY
• Jay Kapur
• Adam Karian - Watervliet, NY
• Stephania Karian - Watervliet, NY
• Aggie Kasparian - Framingham, MA
• Joe Kasparian - Framingham, MA
• Glenn Kasparian - Framingham, MA
• Traci Kasparian - Framingham, MA
• Slava Kayruns - Watervliet, NY
• Armine Khanarian - Fair Lawn, NY
• Garo Khanarian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Elise Marifian - St. Louis, MO
• Richie Markarian - Worcester, MA
• Caroline McGrath - Watertown, MA
• Olivia McGrath - Watertown, MA
• Haiganoush Melkonian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Dan Merian - Framingham, MA
• Steve Mergrdichian - Providence, RI
• Jonathon Najarian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Phil Natcharian - Watervliet, NY
• Bill Nevins - Watervliet, NY
• Dan O'Keefe - Watervliet, NY
• Martin Papazian - Providence, RI
• Berdjouhi Parseghian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Greg Parseghian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Masis Parseghian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Tom Peretzian - Framingham, MA
• Lauren Piligian - Framingham, MA
• Matthew Royland - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Arthur Sabounjian - Framingham, MA
• Jennifer Sabounjian - Framingham, MA
• Michael Sabounjian - Framingham, MA
• Ani Sarkisian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• George Sarkisian - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Donna Scagliarini - Springfield, MA
• Adam Scicchitano - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Andrea Scicchitano - Fair Lawn, NJ
• Christopher Seifel - Framingham, MA
• Merideth Semoorian - Providence, RI
• Anne Terkenian - Cheltenham, PA
• George Terkenian - Cheltenham, PA
• Erik Trojian - Livingston, NJ
• Chuck Tutunjian - Watervliet, NY
• Margo Voskanian - Framingham, MA
• Adrienne Ziemkiewicz - Trumbull, CT
• Lauren Zouranjian - Framingham, MA
• Doug Zoraian - Fair Lawn, NJ

Under one day of volunteer time

• Karine Abalyan - Watervliet, NY
• Fr. Arakel Aljalian - Watertown, MA
• Oscar Derderian - Cambridge, MA
• Sevan Goenezen - Watervliet, NY
• Girard Kasparian, Fowler, CA
• Michael Mamishian - Watertown, MA
• Mark Torosian - Cambridge, MA
• Greg Torosian - Cambridge, MA