His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, and the Religious and Executive Councils of the Eastern Prelacy express their sorrow over the passing of Yeretsgin Zevart Hagopian in Watertown, Massachusetts, on May 24.
A woman of strong and unwavering faith, she left this side of life surrounded by her daughters and grandchildren.
The ninth of ten siblings, Zevart Terterian was born in Kessab, Syria in 1936, to Asadour and Elizar Terterian, Armenian Genocide survivors. Her family later moved to Beirut, Lebanon, where she met and married Khoren Hagopian, who upon his ordination to the priesthood was known as Der Torkom. They immigrated to the United States in 1960 as the Armenian community was growing. After serving the Syracuse, Troy and Binghamton, NY communities for a brief period, they settled in the Watertown community with their three young daughters. Together, Archpriest Fr. Torkom and Yeretsgin Zevart Hagopian served the community of St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church for more than 35 years, with faith and family at the center of their lives.
In addition to her children and grandchildren, Yeretsgin Zevart is survived by her brother George Terterian of California and her sister Varsenig Terterian Nakutis of Florida.
On behalf of the Eastern Prelacy family, Archbishop Anoushavan extends condolences to Yn. Zevart’s family, including Executive Council member Tamar Kanarian.