Archbishop Anoushavan and the Religious and Lay Council have learned with great sorrow that Archpriest Father Vazken G. Bekiarian, passed away on Tuesday, July 27. He was 92.
The longtime Pastor of the Holy Trinity Church of Worcester, Massachusetts, he was born in Nicosia, Cyprus on May 4, 1929, to Armenian Genocide survivors Garabed and Rosa (Ebrekjian) Bekiarian. At the age of seven, he began serving his church and it was during this time he felt a calling to God.
Prior to his calling to serve the Church, he worked as a textile merchant. After studying at Terra Santa College in Nicosia, he traveled to Lebanon to study at the Armenian Theological Seminary of Antelias.
In 1978 he moved to the United States and was ordained a priest in New Jersey. He was then transferred to Holy Trinity Church of Worcester, where he served for 22 years.
In his retirement, Fr. Vazken continued his ministry as an Outreach Priest serving other communities from Michigan down to Florida and from New York to Illinois and Missouri, always traveling by car. His family and the Armenian Prelacy will always remember his selfless service to the Armenian Church and community.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Anahid (Boyadjian) Bekiarian; his children, Rosa Tarabelsi and her husband, Joe, of Waltham, MA; Alitz Beremian and her husband, Shant, of Toronto; Adrine Yaghmourian and her husband, Vasken of Rutland, MA; Tamara Panosian and her husband, Ara, of Philadelphia, and Garo Bekiarian of Worcester, MA; his thirteen grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, and several extended family members.
Besides his parents, Fr. Vazken was predeceased by his brother, Aram Bekiarian, who died in November of 1993, and a niece, Lisa Bekiarian.
In lieu of flowers, his family requests that donations be made to Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, 635 Grove St., Worcester, MA 01605.
Archbishop Anoushavan and the Religious and Lay Councils extend their condolences to Fr. Vazken’s family members and loved ones. May God illuminate his soul. Asdvatz hokeen lousavoreh.