CHRISTMAS CHEER FROM ST. ILLUMINATOR’S FOR THE CHILDREN OF ARTSAKH

In September 2025, St. Illuminator’s hosted an Artsakh commemoration event, during which parishioners and guests of the Cathedral created handmade postcards and letters for children who were forcibly displaced from Artsakh in 2023. These postcards, which crossed continents and an ocean, arrived in Armenia around the New Year.

With generous support from the Cathedral, on-the-ground coordination by Nina Shahverdyan, and the dedication and support of dear friends and local organizations, around 90 children from across Armenia received New Year’s gifts from parishioners and gathered to spend time together as a community and write replies to letters from New York parishioners.

The beautiful event reunited over 35 children from Herher village in Artsakh who had been separated from one another due to war and displacement and also brought together around 40 children living in Kornidzor village in the Syunik region, located along the Armenia–Azerbaijan border. All the children received their gifts, individually selected and presented under a beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

On behalf of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, Archpriest Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Pastor, and the Board of Trustees thank all who donated and, in particular, Nina Shahverdyan for her loving devotion to our most just cause: assisting our Armenian sisters and brothers in need, most especially those who were displaced from Artsakh. Her efforts serve as an example for us to emulate this year and every year.