Archbishop Anoushavan, Very Rev. Fr. Boghos Tinkjian, Rev. Fr. Vahan and Yn. Maggie Kouyoumdjian, surrounded by members of the Board of Trustees, National Representative Assembly delegates, choir members, and altar servers
Requiem Service
His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, visited All Saints’ Church in Glenview, IL, on Saturday, Feb. 19, accompanied by Very Rev. Fr. Boghos Tinkjian, whom His Eminence introduced to the Board of Trustees and National Representative Assembly delegates as the new Pastor of the parish.
In the course of two hours, Archb. Anoushavan and Fr. Boghos had a friendly, lively conversation with members of the auxiliary bodies of the church and sister organizations, outlining cooperation plans and future initiatives.
The following morning, Fr. Boghos officiated his first Divine Liturgy at his new parish. In his homily in both Armenian and English, he expressed his deep gratitude to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, who has now entrusted him the pastoral mission in the Prelacy of the Eastern United States, following his service as dean of the Catholicosate’s Seminary as well as other duties at the Holy See. Fr. Boghos also thanked the Prelate as well as the Religious and Executive Councils for appointing him Pastor of All Saints’ Church.
The Pastor’s sermon was based on the daily Bible reading from the Epistle to Titus: “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness, in the hope of eternal life that God, who never lies, promised before the ages began— in due time he revealed his word through the proclamation with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior.” Adapting the Apostle’s message to his mission with profound reverence, Fr. Boghos expressed his priorities, including the teaching of faith and truth to the community as well as putting the experience he has gained in diverse endeavors to the service of revitalization and progress of the community.
A requiem service was celebrated after Divine Liturgy in the memory of all the priests who have served the Eastern Prelacy.
Following the church ceremonies, a reception was held at Shahnazarian Hall, with Raffi Krikorian, Board of Trustees Chairperson, welcoming Fr. Boghos, saying that their close cooperation will enliven community life. Armen Papazian, representative of the ARF, also saluted the new Pastor in the name of his organization as well as ARS, Hamazkayin, Homenetmen, and AYF.
The Prelate in turn thanked Catholicos Aram I for his fatherly care for the parishes. In his praise for Fr. Boghos, he expressed his wish that the new Pastor’s experience as the Seminary dean may help him become an exemplary teacher and father to all. He thanked Fr. Vahan Kouyoumdjian, who alongside Yn. Maggie in the last six months visited the parish every weekend, offering spiritual nourishment and relief to the community. He also commended the Board of Trustees, auxiliary bodies, and sister organizations for their close cooperation that enabled a smooth transition. The Prelate also urged the faithful to relate to their new Pastor as a genuine family member.
The event was closed marking the sixtieth birthday of Fr. Vahan and the cutting of a cake to welcome Fr. Boghos, followed by a blessing prayer and the Giligia song.