CATHEDRAL HOSTS PRESENTATION OF BOOK BY ARCHPRIEST FR. NERSES MANOOKIAN

On Sunday, October 27, following the Divine Liturgy, St. Illuminator’s Cathedral hosted the presentation of the bilingual book Armenian Church Traditions of Certain Sacraments and the Five Cardinal Feasts (Հայ Եկեղեցւոյ Որոշ Խորհուրդներու եւ Հինգ Տաղաւար Տօներու Աւանդութիւններ) by Archpriest Fr. Nerses Manoogian, Pastor Emeritus of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Philadelphia. The event was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan. 

Archdeacon Shant Kazanjian, vice-chair of the Board of Trustees, welcomed attendees on behalf of the Cathedral and invited Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Pastor, to introduce the author and his book.  

In his introduction, Fr. Mesrob spoke of Fr. Nerses Manoogian’s dedication. “I have followed closely Fr. Nerses’s ministry,” he said. “The book and the pen, writing and literature, lecturing and teaching have been a permanent presence in his pastoral service, bringing greater depth and value to his life’s work.”  

Fr. Nerses expressed heartfelt gratitude to the pastor and the board of trustees of the Cathedral for organizing this event and spoke of the fond memories he had of his teachers at the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, acknowledging their role in his intellectual and spiritual formation. He noted that beyond the classroom, they inspired generations through their faith and vision.  

Hasmik Mekanejian captivated the audience with a beautiful and powerful rendition of the hymn Vork Zartaretseen (“Որք Զարդարեցին”), dedicated to the Holy Translators.  

In his remarks, His Eminence congratulated Fr.  Nerses and said that the book holds a unique place in the literature of pastoral service. He expressed his hope that it would serve as a source of inspiration for other clergy members.