FROM THE ARMENIAN HERITAGE WALK TO ARARAT

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

Last Friday and Saturday, together with Bishops Mesrop Parsamyan and Mikael Mouradian, we presided over a historic event: the opening of the Armenian Heritage Walk in central Philadelphia across the Philadelphia Museum of Art, dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the Independence of United States of America. A long-cherished dream, it became a reality through the work of the visionary, passionate, and deeply committed members of the organizing committee, supported by the Greater Philadelphia Armenian community, as well as generous sponsors.  

These were two memorable days. On Friday evening, an intercommunal service at Saints Peter and Paul Basilica Cathedral commemorating the martyrdom of the 1915 Armenian Genocide was followed by the dedication of a khachkar brought from Armenia and placed in the church courtyard. On Saturday morning, the Armenian Heritage Walk was formally dedicated, and the historic occasion concluded that evening with a gala at Constitution Center Hall.  

Those who have visited the statue of Young Meher during the last fifty years will be stunned to see its modest garden transformed into a carefully curated representation of a glorious dream, rich in symbolism. The Heritage Walk was designed to evoke the resting place of Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat. Its length—301 feet—recalls the year of Armenia’s historic adoption of Christianity as its official religion. The design’s dimensions and proportions are based on multiples of three, referencing the Holy Trinity woven into the Armenian Heritage Walk’s flow. The flowers, shrubs, and sixty–four impressive stones come from Armenia, the land where the Euphrates and Tigris once irrigated the Biblical Eden. Above all, it is especially noteworthy that the statue of Young Meher, which for half a century faced south toward the museum, now has turned eastward towards Armenia—signifying that the eyes, minds, and hearts of every Armenian, no matter where they live, are directed to the land of Mt. Ararat, the eternal, symbolic bedrock of our identity.  

As I said in my remarks during the dedication ceremony, this is not just a Heritage Walk, but an open school built by sacrificial love and vision, meant to make all visitors aware of the spirit of Armenia and Armenians: we were, we are, and we will forever remain the children of Light and Life. As such, we will always share our God-given gifts for creating, building, and enriching society at large.  

Yes, my dear brothers and sisters, we should all rejoice that as faithful children of God we have always been grateful and loyal citizens of every country that has given us shelter after the Genocide. At the same time, by transforming our bitter experience into faith, hope, and love, we stand with and walk alongside all those who are subjected to new genocides, persecutions, and displacement amid the indifference of the world.   

With this understanding, let us always thank the Almighty Lord who leads and strengthens us through the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses by celebrating life through His Only Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.