PRELATE OFFERS SPECIAL PRAYER AT THE REDEDICATION OF HAIRENIK BUILDING

On Saturday, April 18, His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, presided over the rededication of the Hachikian Family Hairenik Building in Watertown, MA, accompanied by Very Rev. Fr. Hrant Tahanian, Pastor of the local St. Stephen’s Church, and Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, its Emeritus Pastor. Rev. Fr. Ghazar Bedros, Pastor of Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church (Belmont, MA), also attended. The Prelate congratulated the Hairenik Association and the Hachikian family for their generosity, which continues to strengthen the work that has shaped generations, and read a prayer on the occasion:

“Glory be to You, source of Life, Omnipotent, Beneficent, Compassionate Father God, who created the universe with all its elements and creatures, and especially man, in Your image and likeness, endowing him with reason to know You, glorify You, and work through You.

Thanks be to You, source of Wisdom, Only Begotten Son of God and Our Lord Jesus Christ, who by granting Your wisdom to our fathers, Gregory the Illuminator, Patriarch Sahag, and Mesrob Mashdots, Krikor Naregatsi and Nerses Shnorhali, and their followers, spread abundantly the light of Your wisdom, to enlighten the sons and daughters of the Armenian nation, illuminated by You.

Praise be to You, All Powerful Holy Spirit, who at all times guides all those who turn to You, and who inspires and enlightens with the rays of wisdom all those who open the doors of their mind and heart to Your truth.

We beg and ask You to listen to our supplication, gathered here, far from the homeland, under the roof of “Hairenik,” filled with longing and love for our homeland, this place where since 1899 the multitudes of intellectuals enlightened by the light of Your wisdom furrowed their minds with love for culture and cast the glimmers of hope and justice on the darkened souls of the sons and daughters of the Armenian nation following persecution, massacres, and especially the Armenian Genocide, and, bridging Your children scattered throughout the world, cultivated their minds and imbued them with the spirit of freedom and righteous vindication.

Grant peace, O Lord, to the souls of those generations who founded and embellished this institution, enhanced its mission, and departed.

Bless, Lord, all those who selflessly keep this institution’s flame alive, granting them clarity of mind to continue without straying from their ancestors’ legacy.

Bless, Lord, the new benefactors of this house, the members of the Hachikian family anointed with the sign of Your Holy Cross, who set aside a portion of the fruits of honest labor and donated it to this sacred home of mind, will, and vision.

Bless, O Lord, all those who help this institution, believing in its supreme mission.

And all of us, friends near and far from this institution, will joyfully give thanks to You, Creator of Light and Life, forever and ever. Amen.”