CLERGY AND YOUTH HONOR MARTYRS AT NEW YORK CATHEDRAL, MARCH TO UNION SQUARE

On Thursday, April 24, His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, presided over the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral. Very Rev. Father Vache Balekjian, Pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey, celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the homily at the Holy Martyrs Altar. His Eminence Archbishop Torkom, former Prelate of the Western Prelacy; Archpriest Fr. Nareg Terterian, Pastor of St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York; Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, and Rev. Fr. Vahan Kouyoumdjian, Pastor of Holy Cross Church in Troy, New York, participated in the services.  

After the Divine Liturgy, a madagh was blessed at the Pashalian Hall with a short program including remarks by Artak Beglaryan, former State Minister and Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh, and Alex Vartanian of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Arsen Chapter of New Jersey. Annmarie Hazarian of the AYF Hyortik Chapter sang the national anthems of Armenia and Artsakh. Nicole Yaghdjian, chairwoman of the same chapter, served as MC. At the conclusion of the program, the participants marched to Union Square, where Kevin Davidian of the AYF Moush Chapter and Chantelle Nasri, chairwoman of the Armenian National Commitee (ANC) of New York, delivered remarks. The march was organized by the AYF Moush, Hyortik, and Arsen Chapters, and the Armenian National Committee of New York and New Jersey.