May 11, 2006

Parishioners Rally Behind Accused Priest

NEW BRITAIN (CT)
Hartford Courant

May 11, 2006
By DON STACOM, And HILDA MUNOZ Courant Staff Writers NEW BRITAIN -- A small group of parishioners spent Wednesday trying to organize a show of support Sunday for the Rev. Krikoris Keshishian, the longtime priest at St. Stephen's Apostolic Armenian Church who was charged Tuesday with molesting a 12-year-old girl.

"Several parishioners on their own are calling the list of church members, asking them if at all possible to come to church on Mother's Day as a show of solidarity for the priest," said George Rustigian, adviser to St. Stephen's trustees.

Keshishian is scheduled to lead the services at 10 a.m. at the church on Tremont Street.

Keshishian, 53, could not be reached for comment Wednesday. He was driving to Massachusetts to meet with a priest who has been assigned by the Armenian Prelacy in New York to investigate the incident,according to a church leader.

Posted by kshaw at May 11, 2006 06:53 AM