PRELATE LEADS NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATION AT STS. VARTANANTZ CHURCH

On Wednesday, December 31, His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, attended the New Year’s celebration at the parish hall of Sts. Vartanantz Church in New Jersey. Accompanying the Prelate were His Eminence Archbishop Khoren, Pastor of St. Stephen’s Church (New Britain, Connecticut); the Very Rev. Fr. Ardag Arabian, Pastor of Holy Trinity Church (Worcester, MA); the Very Rev. Fr. Boghos Tinkjian, Pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania); Archpriest Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Pastor of St. Illuminator Cathedral (New York); Rev. Fr. Vahan Kouyoumjian, Pastor of Holy Cross Church (Troy, New York); and, as a guest in our city, His Grace Bishop Bedros Manouelian, Dean of the Armenian community of Venezuela.

Following the blessing of the table and welcome remarks by the Very Rev. Fr. Vache Balekjian, Pastor of the hosting parish, and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Hratch Mesrobian, more than 250 people enjoyed a festive year-end banquet evening, amid beautifully set tables and an Armenian-inspired atmosphere.

At midnight, the gathered faithful bade farewell to the year 2025 and welcomed 2026, exchanging greetings and well-wishes. Thereafter, with the hymns “Glory in the Highest” (“Փառք ի Բարձունս”) and “Lord, Have Mercy” (“Տէր ողորմեա”), they prayed to the Merciful God, asking His blessing for peace in the world, especially for the Armenian nation at this critical juncture in its history.

The evening concluded with the Prelate’s exhortative message—encouraging all, on the occasion of the New Year, to be renewed with fresh faith and hope—and the collective recitation of the “Lord’s Prayer.”