During the recent Pontifical Visit to the New England and Midwest parishes of the Eastern Prelacy, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I emphasized the crucial role of education in strengthening Armenian communities. Meeting with local leaders and parishioners, His Holiness called for increased community support to expand and develop educational initiatives tied to the mission of the Holy See of Cilicia.
On October 13, the Catholicos attended a dinner reception hosted by the Guzelian family in Boston, where he engaged with community members to discuss the expansion and transformation plans for St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School in Watertown, Massachusetts. The host, Michael Guzelian, presented the proposed initiatives and expressed hopes for widespread community support. Following the reception, His Holiness and Guzelian held a private meeting to explore the Catholicos’s insights on the project.
Continuing his emphasis on education, the Catholicos visited St. Sarkis Church in Dearborn, Michigan, on October 22, for a gathering focused on the mission of the Armenian Theological Seminary. The event featured a video presentation on the Seminary’s daily activities and speeches from the event’s sponsor, Raffi Kuredjian, and Parish Pastor, Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian.
In his closing remarks, the Catholicos offered his pontifical blessing and described the Seminary as a “forge” that shapes future leaders. He noted that all clergy present at the event were Seminary graduates, trained to serve their communities with dedication. His Holiness emphasized that the Seminary aims to instill a spirit of service rooted in the values of the Holy See of Cilicia.
His Holiness’ tour through New England and the Midwest marked the second part of the Pontifical Visit to the United States, following the initial leg in November 2023. The trip was meant to engage with Armenian communities, reinforce educational efforts, and deepen connections within the Eastern Prelacy.