PRELATE PRESIDES OVER FUNERAL OF CHOIRMASTER VARTAN SERAYDARIAN

His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, presided over the funeral of noted choirmaster Vartan Seraydarian at St. Stephen’s Church, in Watertown, MA. Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, Pastor, participated in the ceremony, assisted by Rev. Fr. Samuel Ajemian, and accompanied by Rev. Fr. Arakel Aljalian, Pastor of St. James Church of the Eastern Diocese, and Rev. Fr. Stephan Baljian, Pastor of St. Gregory Church in North Andover, MA.

In his eulogy, the Prelate extolled Mr. Seraydarian virtues, true to the mission implicit in his name, saying that even though he did not fight in a battlefield as Vartan Mamigonian did at Avarayr, he led the effort of educating generations for 75 years, never retreating from the challenge with a selfless devotion to the sacred Armenian art and culture.

He prepared generations of choir singers at Aleppo’s St. Gregory the Illuminator Church and at Sourp Nshan Church in Beirut, followed by his service at St. Stephen’s Church in Watertown.  Moreover, his love of Armenian art and culture served as an inspiration for the students at the schools associated with those churches.

Archbishop Anoushavan called Mr. Seraydarian the “flute of the Holy Ghost,” who devoted himself to serving God and leading the people to Him through music.