More Than 100 Armenian-Americans Attend Annual Summer Picnic In Idaho: Three Children Baptized

The Armenians of Idaho based in Boise, Idaho hosted their annual summer picnic on Sunday, July 25. The group has been active in Boise for more than twenty years and has been bringing attention to the Armenian genocide by commemorating the lives lost with a yearly ceremony and has significantly contributed to the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial in downtown Boise, which features stories of local residents whose families survived genocide.

This years’ picnic was special in that it had been a year since the group had gathered. Approximately 100 people were present for the first Armenian Orthodox service in the state. Father Vazgen Boyajyan of Seattle, Washington officiated communion and three families participated by having their children baptized. Others in attendance requested baptism and there are plans for another service later in the fall of 2021. The group is having significant growth as more Armenians are moving to Idaho and have expressed an interest in more formal religious services in the future.

The Armenians of Idaho would like to thank the Diocesan Primate His Eminence Archbishop Derderian and Father Vazgen Boyajyan for making this event possible.

-Stephenie Dickie-Kourouyan