FR. ARDAG IS WELCOMED BY HOLY TRINITY COMMUNITY AS NEW PASTOR

Archbishop Anoushavan with Executive Council members, Board of Trustees members and NRA delegates, and clergy

Archbishop Anoushavan and Very Rev. Fr. Ardag Arabian

His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, accompanied Very Rev. Fr. Ardag Arabian to his new parish, the Holy Trinity Church, in Worcester, MA, on Saturday, March 26. The Prelate introduced the new Pastor to the Board of Trustees and the delegates of the National Representative Assembly.

On March 27, known as the Sunday of the Judge, Fr. Ardag celebrated the first Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Church, an unforgettable day of renewal and revitalization for the community.

Fr. Ardag expressed his filial gratitude to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I for his appointment to new pastoral duties. He also thanked the Prelate and the Executive Council for entrusting the spiritual care of the oldest Armenian community in America to him. He had words of gratitude for Rev. Fr. Torkom Chorbajian, the former Pastor, and the Board of Trustees for the warm welcome.

In his homily, Fr. Ardag highlighted the daily reading from the Bible as an example of the irreplaceable power of prayer, calling it the key to overcoming every crisis in our collective life.

Following Divine Liturgy, a reception was held at the parish hall with food prepared by the Ladies’ Guild. In her words of welcome, Board of Trustees chairwoman Jaclyn Greenhalgh thanked Rev. Fr. Chorbajian and Yeretzgeen Shoger for their extensive dedication and vowed that the community was at the disposal of the new Pastor as it was with the former one.

Rev. Fr. Torkom Chorbajian, Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, Judge Sarkis Teshoian, Archbishop Anoushavan, Very Rev. Fr. Ardag Arabian, and Judge Jaclyn Greenhalgh

Then the Pastors of the area took turns to address the public, beginning with Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, followed by Archpriest Fr. Gomidas Baghsarian, and Rev. Frs. Stepan Baljian and Samuel Ajemian, as well as Rev. Fr. Vahan Kouyoumdjian, who congratulated Fr. Ardag for joining the ranks of the Prelacy clergy and bid farewell to Fr. Torkom.

Immediately afterwards, Archb. Anoushavan praised Fr. Torkom for his selfless service to the community in the challenging times of the pandemic. He then stressed Fr. Ardag’s virtues that would enable him in his new role as a Pastor and expressed his wish that the community would resume the path to growth as life slowly returns to normal.

Judge Jaclyn Greenhalgh

Former Executive Council Chairman Judge Sarkis Teshoian as well as current members Houry Daghlian and Tamar Kanarian were also present at the reception. Mr. Teshoian delivered a pleasant surprise by announcing that Ms. Greenhalgh had been appointed Associate Justice of the District Court. Ms. Greenhalgh expressed her gratitude for the announcement and said she followed on Judge Teshoian’s footsteps by becoming the second Armenian magistrate in the district.

On behalf of the Prelacy, Archb. Anoushavan also congratulated Judge Greenhalgh, whose appointment coincided with the Sunday of the Judge, wishing she will perform her duties with fairness, dedication, and courage, bringing honor to the state as well as to the Armenian community.

This joyous event was closed with the “Giligia” song, a hymn to hope, and a blessing by Fr. Ardag.