On Sunday, April 24, the Southeast Wisconsin Armenian Churches gathered to celebrate Martyred Saints of the Armenian Genocide, with a joint Divine Liturgy at St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church in Racine.
The celebrant was Archpriest Fr. Daron Stepanian, pastor of St. Hagop, and the messages of the day were given, in Armenian, by Rev. Fr. Guregh Hambardzumyan, Pastor of St. John the Baptist Armenian Apostolic Church, and, in English, by Rev. Fr. Avedis Kalayjian, Pastor of St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic church.
At the end of the service, Archpriest Fr. Yeprem Kelegian offered a prayer for the martyred saints.
The chalice used during the service was a surviving vessel from Armash Monastery’s St. Nishan Church dated 1820, and was saved from the Genocide and brought to USA, now in possession of Chuck Hajinian, of Milwaukee, WI.
After the church service, a lavish buffet prepared by the Ladies Auxiliary of St. Hagop was offered in the church hall.