On September 19, the grounds of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church came alive with music, laughter, and fellowship as more than 500 parishioners, friends, and members of the greater community gathered for our annual St. Sarkis Picnic. What a wonderful day it was! More than simply an afternoon of food and festivities, the picnic was a beautiful reflection of what makes St. Sarkis so special—a vibrant community rooted in faith, strengthened by friendship, and united by a deep love of our Armenian heritage.
Throughout the day, guests enjoyed delicious Armenian food and filled the dance floor to the lively sounds of the Michael Gostanian Ensemble, featuring Michael Gostanian, John Tarpinian, Sevan Simonian, and Christopher Vosbikian. DJ Nick Yaziciyan kept the celebration going with a wonderful selection of music, while the NY Hamazkayin Nor Yeraz Dance Group delighted the crowd with a beautiful performance of Armenian dances, bringing the richness and spirit of our traditions to life.
The success of this special day was truly a community effort. We are deeply grateful to the dozens of volunteers who generously gave their time, talent, and energy, with a very special thank-you to our Picnic Chairman, Mr. Razmik Nenejian, for his leadership and dedication. Our heartfelt thanks go to our Grill Masters, who worked tirelessly to feed hundreds of guests, and especially to Gevork Khatunyan for preparing the exceptionally delicious luleh kebab that was enjoyed by so many. We also extend our sincere appreciation to our sponsors and to those who generously donated food and raffle prizes. Most of all, we thank everyone who joined us and filled our church grounds with such warmth, fellowship, and joy. Days like these remind us that St. Sarkis is far more than a place we come to worship—it is our spiritual home, where our faith is nurtured, our Armenian heritage is cherished and passed on, and generations come together as one family.