BANQUET HONORS CATHOLICOS ARAM I’S 30 YEARS OF SERVICE
By Florence Avakian
The Garden City Hotel was aglow in lights, love, and devotion as more than 175 enthusiastic believers and friends filled the elegant hall on Sunday, November 16, to honor and pay their respects and love to Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Catholicos Aram I on the 30th anniversary of his enthronement.
The delegation accompanying His Holiness included His Eminence Archbishop Kegham, Prelate of the Western Prelacy; His Eminence Archbishop Papken, Prelate of Canada; His Eminence Archbishop Torkom, former Prelate of the Western Prelacy; His Grace Bishop Dajad, Executive Director of the Catholicosate; Very Rev. Fr. Hovagim Panjarjian, head of the Information Department of the Catholicosate; Very Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aprahamian, officer of Christian-Islamic dialogue and staff bearer; and Berj Apkarian, Honorary Consul of Armenia in Fresno. Special guests included Ambassador Paruyr Hovhannisyan, Armenian permanent representative to the U.N.
Following the American and Armenian anthems sung by Anoosh Barclay and Hooshere Bezdikian, the clergy sang the Pontifical Anthem.
Welcoming remarks were shared by Richard Kanarian, who served as MC, and Susan Chitjian Erickson, co-chairperson of the steering committee. Aram Hamparian, ANCA Executive Director, offered greetings from sister organizations.
Very Rev. Ardag Arabian, Pastor of the Holy Trinity Church (Worcester, MA), said in English and Armenian, “May your dedication inspire us,” and Col. Aram Sarafian, Chairman of the Executive Council, reminded all of the words of His Holiness that “the Armenian Church is far more than its sacred buildings or ancient stones, but the Church is a living reality,” and that he “inspires our youth not only to inherit the Church, but to enrich it and carry it forward with renewed strength.”
A powerful video displaying highlights from the service of Catholicos Aram I, including growth of Christian education, religious and education publications, founding of the “Cilicia” museum”, the Armenian Genocide Orphans Museum, renovation of the “Cilicia” library,” reorganization of the Khatcher Kaloustian Pedagogical Center and various education and publishing projects and funds were featured. In addition, the Catholicos has established the Aram I Armenological Institute, expanded the services at the Armenian Sanatorium, the Armenian nursing home and new facilities in the Catholicosate compound, continued the construction of the Bezikian Center in Antelias Monastery, and monastic residences of the different clergy sections were established. Greetings were voiced by two ecumenical leaders. Bishop Nektarios, General Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, referred to Catholicos Aram I as “a man of prayer, a man of God,” and Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Vatican to the U.N., declared: “This is not a personal milestone but a missionary leadership of Catholicos Aram I with purpose.” It is also “the life of ministry, the expression of life in Christ that he shares with us, Christian service or quest for Christian unity of the ecumenical hope and deed that inspires us.”
During the program, several musical artists delighted the audience including Anoosh Barclay, Hooshere Bezdikian, and Karina Vartanian with patriotic and well-known songs. Karina Vartanian’s rendition of Edgar Hovhannisian’s “Yerevan” inspired the audience to sing along with her.
Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy, who with a large committee planned this 30th anniversary year celebration, greeted all attendees at every table in his words of gratitude and stated “It’s so lovely when we come together, with the youth, with unity, with all of us.” Addressing Catholicos Aram I, he said: “He has adorned the Armenian firmament with his spiritual and intellectual brilliance, like a rainbow through his writings and oratory, he has enriched the treasury of Armenian culture.”
Continuing eloquently, the Prelate said: “He has been an educator to the new generation, calling them to assume roles of responsibility as the present and future of the nation. He has been a counselor to both ecclesiastical and lay leaders. He has been an unwavering defender of the Armenian causes and he has been a builder, transforming the Catholicosate in Antelias and the monastery in Bikfaya. Above all, during the crises of the Middle East and the homeland, throughout religious conferences, he has stood as a bell tower of dialogue and peace. We offer our prayers that he may continue to guide us toward peaceful harbors for the splendor of the Armenian Church and enlightenment of the Armenian Nation.”
As Catholicos Aram I rose to speak the audience gave him a lengthy standing ovation. He spoke at length about “this celebration being a major and community happening in the life of the church” and related this spiritual journey that took him to Montreal, Los Angeles to Fresno and finally to New York. “I spoke and listened. Our leadership for the youth must be taken seriously. We must act, think together in the Armenian way, on how the church and nation articulate together. It is through renewal and transformation. We must open ourselves to new horizons. Anniversaries are a pathway.” He listed the three top priorities: “Armenia and the diaspora must respond to happenings in the homeland. We need to open ourselves to future new realities. The life of our church and community will have to have a new vision and activism by the youth. And the church has to continue to be avant garde. The homeland and the diaspora are ONE.”
The gathering of the dedicated banquet attendees “displayed the vision and commitment of Catholicos Aram I, which have made the Catholicosate of Cilicia of the Armenian Church a living center of reflection, dialogue and action – a center that is prepared to face the challenges of the future earnestly and valiantly,” a feeling reflected by many of the banquet attendees.
The proud singing of “Giligia” brought the celebratory event to an unforgettable conclusion.
