St. Leon Armenian Church
ACYOA Juniors
Join the ACYOA Juniors at St. Leon Armenian Church and become part of a vibrant community dedicated to fostering spiritual growth and leadership among our youth.
ACYOA Juniors
The Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA) is the national youth program of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern). Since 1946, the ACYOA has brought together Armenian Christian youth in fellowship, forming bonds of faith and friendship within the Armenian Church. Programming is based on the Five Circles of the Cross, balancing: Worship, Witness, Fellowship, Education, and Service.
All our events and programs show teens and young adults how to make their faith an integral part of day to day life. The goal of the ACYOA is to create responsible, faithful young Armenian Christians who are active within the life of the Church. ACYOA Juniors is open to youth ages 13-18 (high school senior). New members are encouraged to join at any time and are always welcome!
ACYOA Juniors objective and mission is:
- To encourage its members to learn, practice and uphold the principles and teachings of Christian faith according to the doctrine, sacraments, and canons of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
- To support and work for the strengthening of the Armenian Church and to promote the study and appreciation of Armenian culture and heritage.
- To strengthen spiritual and social bonds and to contribute towards the development of a healthy community life among Armenians.
- To enhance and strengthen among its members the spirit of human freedom, universal justice, and brotherhood of men, and devotion to duty as good citizens, dedicated to the service of God.
ACYOA Juniors
The Emblem of the ACYOA and its Symbolic Meaning:
The emblem of the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America, adopted at its inception, is to be interpreted as follows:
The radiations from the center of the cross symbolize the truths of the Christian religion that shine forth through the centuries.
The symbols under the horizontal bar of the cross are:
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(right hand side) The double peaks of Mount Ararat, representing the Armenian people and its destiny. Ararat has been the silent witness of the victories as well as defeats of the Armenians through their existence as a people and a nation. Its representation of the A.C.Y.O.A. emblem means that the members of the Organization make the pledge of standing for the ideals for which the Armenian nation has always stood.
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(left hand side) The United States eagle with its wings widespread and star above each wing. The eagle looks proudly into far distances and holds, as usual a batch of arrows. The eagle represents the United States. Its presence on the A.C.Y.O.A. emblem symbolizes the loyalty of the members of the A.C.Y.O.A. to the Constitution of the United States and to its principles of democracy and freedom.
The chain that encircles the cross on the emblem represents solidarity among the members of the A.C.Y.O.A. in their service to God and to people.
These symbols are designed on a shield which stands for the determination with which the objects of the A.C.Y.O.A. are to be carried out. The shield also stands for defense against dangerous encroachments.
It will be noted that the dominating feature of the emblem is the cross. This indicates the fact that Christ is our Lord and that to Him we owe obedience above all.
Prayer of the ACYOA:
O Lord our Savior Jesus Christ, Who art the Way, the Truth, and the Life, give us, the youth of the Church of Armenia, we beseech Thee, the wisdom to know, to love, and to serve Thee in our personal lives severally, and in the corporate life of our organization. Thou that leadest men in the way, lead us, thy children, that we may be able to serve the Church through our people, with courage and vision, and in the faith of our illustrious forefathers. Inspire us, O Lord, and open our eyes to thy light, that we may cherish and profit by the heritage which our forefathers have left to us, and that we may be aware of our responsibilities as citizens of our beloved country, the United States of America. Fill us, O Christ our God, with thy Holy Spirit, that we may be the obedient and unselfish servants of the Will of our Heavenly Father, to whom, together with Thee and the Holy Spirit, is befitting Glory, Dominion and Honor, now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Meet Our Executive Board
Our dedicated executive board is committed to guiding and supporting the ACYOA Juniors. Get to know the leaders who are shaping our community.
Our incoming executive committee members for the upcoming year (2024-2025) are as follows:
- Chairman – Raphie Dovlatyan
- Vice Chairman – Aram Chamesian
- Treasurer – Daniel Cilingiryan
- Secretary – Taleen Stephans
- Publicity Coordinators – Olivia de los reyes & Ryan Moumdjian
- Parent Advisors: Susan Chamesian & Saynik Cilingiryan
If interested in becoming an ACYOA member or for any questions, please reach out to:
Raphie Dovlatyan at raphaeldovlatian@gmail.com
Susan Chamesian at susanchamesian@gmail.com (Parent Advisor)
Please follow us on social media for updates and reminders, pictures, dates, and much more!!
