The 90th anniversary of the groundbreaking of Saint Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church was celebrated on Sunday, April 14, in Indian Orchard, MA.
His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon.
Following the church service, a luncheon celebration and official program were held at the Wilbraham Country Club. Mr. Stepan Piligian, grandson of founding member Stepan Piligian Sr., served as the master of ceremonies.
During the event, Tanya Garibian, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, delivered the welcoming address. She invited the Prelate and Pastor to present awards to three individuals, Leo Vartanian, Harry Setian, and Arax Charkoudian, in recognition of their lifelong dedication to the church.
A touching video presentation showcased the work and blessings of the founding members of Saint Gregory Church, bringing their legacy to life for the current generation. The video included historic pictures from the community’s past, dating back 90 years.
As part of the luncheon, guests received a beautifully designed commemorative booklet created by Karoun Charkoudian. The booklet featured congratulatory letters, recognized generous donors to the 90th anniversary celebration, and included an illustrated timeline of events that have shaped St. Gregory Church over the past nine decades.
The anniversary cake was presented and cut by Arax Charkoudian, one of the oldest members of the Church in attendance, symbolizing the connection between past and present generations. Tamar Sarkeesian, one of the youngest attendees, joined Arax in cutting the cake.
The celebration was further uplifted by a presentation from humorist Dottie Bengoian Ouligian, bringing joy to everyone in attendance. Guest speaker Eddie Garibian shared a heartfelt talk about his upbringing in the church and the profound impact of Nevart Simmons and Varteni Murphy, long-time Sunday School teachers, on his life.
Another guest speaker, Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian, spoke about the loving years he and his son spent at Saint Gregory.
Rev. Fr. Bedros Shetilian, Pastor, expressed gratitude to the entire community for their hard work and dedication, encouraging them to continue serving Saint Gregory Church and to keep it as a central part of their lives, both individually and as a community. Fr. Shetilian then introduced Archbishop Anoushavan, inviting him to share his message at the podium. The Prelate concluded the ceremony by congratulating the community, praising the spirit of the Indian Orchard community, and offering the message of hope to all attendees.
