PRELATE WELCOMES CATHOLICOS AS HE BEGINS EAST COAST VISIT
His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, welcomed His Holiness Catholicos Aram I to the East Coast, where on Thursday, November 13, his New York–area visit opens with a Carnegie Hall concert featuring soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian.
Following a whirlwind Western Prelacy tour marking the 30th anniversary of his pontificate, the program continues with a cultural evening at Sts. Vartanantz Church hall in Ridgefield, NJ (Friday, Nov. 14); a meeting with young professionals at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York (Saturday, Nov. 15); the Episcopal Divine Liturgy at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston (Sunday, Nov. 16), where His Holiness will deliver his message; and a banquet at the Garden City Hotel, Garden City (Sunday, Nov. 16).
Previously in California—the final leg of the West Coast tour—the Catholicos visited Fresno and San Francisco, joined by Archbishop Anoushavan and other clergy. In Fresno, on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, His Holiness consecrated the holy altar of the renovated Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, where he was received by His Eminence Archbishop Kegham, Prelate of the Western Prelacy; the pastor, V. Rev. Fr. Ashod Khatchadourian; members of the Board of Trustees; and a large gathering of faithful.
On Thursday morning, November 6, His Holiness presided over a requiem at Ararat Cemetery—one of the most significant Armenian historic landmarks in the United States—praying for the eternal repose of the martyrs of the Armenian nation and distinguished cultural figures. Among those honored were Soghomon Tehlirian, Prof. Richard Hovannisian, and William Saroyan.
Later that day, the Catholicos visited Fresno State University, welcomed by Mr. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Director of the Center for Armenian Studies, and colleagues; the visit began with a prayer at the campus Armenian Genocide Monument in the presence of university officials, Armenian students, and representatives of Fresno’s Armenian churches. That evening, His Holiness met with young Armenian professionals and students for an intimate dinner conversation.
In San Francisco, Catholicos Aram I and his entourage was received by the local community at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church on Friday, November 7, with the Hrashapar hymn, followed by his energizing message and the traditional Achahampouyr. The community honored the visit with an official banquet on Saturday evening, November 8, marking the Catholicos’ pontifical visit and the 30th anniversary of his enthronement. His Holiness celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church—the first pontifical Liturgy ever held there—an occasion embraced with deep reverence by the faithful and community leaders.