PRELATE BESTOWS PECTORAL CROSS ON FR. SAMUEL AJEMIAN AS ALL SAINTS CELEBRATES 82nd ANNIVERSARY

His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, visited the Chicago area over the weekend of November 1–2, 2025, to mark the 82nd anniversary of All Saints Church in Glenview, Illinois—on a weekend featuring the pectoral cross granted to Rev. Fr. Samuel Ajemian, Pastor, along with acolyte investitures and subdeacon ordinations. 

On Saturday morning, together Fr. Samuel, he visited the Taniel Varoujan Armenian Saturday School, where he met with the principal, Mrs. Jacqueline Papazian, and members of the board of trustees; afterward, His Eminence visited each classroom to convey his paternal blessing and love to the students. 

On Saturday evening, during the anniversary banquet, Fr. Samuel addressed the attendees, expressing gratitude to the founders who, 82 years ago, built the parish and community from nothing. The program featured a brief artistic performance by Alexandria and Lilia Yaralian, the granddaughters of Archiprest Kourken Yaralian, a member of the Prelacy clergy in the early years. Concluding the evening, Archbishop Anoushavan offered a paternal message, commending everyone for their labors; then, following the reading of the encyclical of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, he formally bestowed upon Fr. Samuel the privilege of wearing the pectoral cross (lanchakhach). 

On Sunday, November 2, the Prelate celebrated the Divine Liturgy. During the service, he invested the Sunday School students of All Saints Armenian Apostolic Church with the rank of acolyte and ordained Aren Hardy and Armen Krikorian as subdeacons. In his sermon, Archbishop Anoushavan praised the Sunday School students for their service and emphasized the vital role of today’s younger generation in the life of our Church and our broader community.