Following the invocation by Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy, Mrs. Iris Papazian
warmly welcomed the guests on behalf of the PLG, and related
the history of the first mother’s day in the United States.
She noted that Mothers’ Day honors the nurturing spirit
of all women. She related the story of Marie Jacobsen, a Danish
woman who never had children of her own, who founded the Birds
Nest orphanage in Lebanon during the genocide. “By the
spring of 1916 she was caring for more than 5,000 orphans and
every one of them called her Mama,” Mrs. Papazian said.
Following the delicious filet mignon lunch,
the Mother-of-the-Year, Mrs. Varjabedian, was honored by the
Prelate. “Everyone’s mother is unique because a
mother is a light in the dark,” the Prelate said. “God
made mothers because He couldn’t do everything. Especially
in the Armenian family, the mother is the nucleus of strength,
the miraculous way of our survival.”
Mrs. Araxie Varjabedian who was present with
her family of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren,
was born in Jerusalem, a family of Genocide survivors originally
from Marash. Following her graduation from Tarkmanchatz Varjaran,
she married Sisak Varjabedian, a businessman and author of books
about the Lebanese Armenian community. The Varjabedians, with
their three children, came to the United States in 1976.
The Prelate, in presenting a beautifully framed
certificate to Mrs. Varjabedian, pointed out that she has been
honored with a medallion from the Catholicos of All Armenians,
Vasken I, of blessed memory, for her dedicated service to the
Armenian Church. In expressing her appreciation to Archbishop
Oshagan, the honoree stated, “I’m just an example
of Armenian mothers who are known for their love and dedication
to the church.”
A musical interlude was performed by four students
from the prestigious Juilliard School of Music, featuring singers
Ross Chitwood, Solange Merdinian and Jeanette Vecchione, and
pianist Vlad Iftinka. They presented several charming selections
from La Boheme, Don Giovanni, Tales of Hoffman and West Side
Story. Two Armenian selections, Oror and Im Yerevan performed
by Ms. Merdinian, especially delighted the guests.
The afternoon concluded with the raffle of lovely
gifts donated by members of the Prelacy Ladies Guild, who every
year plan and organize this successful event. The floral centerpieces
beautifying each table were donated by Mardig Kachian, Mary
Sarajian and Beatrice Pidedjian in memory of their mother, Rahan
Kachian, the 2005 Mother-of-the-Year.
Prior to the conclusion of the afternoon a donation
of $5,000 to the Prelacy was announced by the family of Mrs.
Araxie Varjabedian.
The members of the Prelacy Ladies Guild are:
Seda Andrikian, Sima Artinoff, Marion Boudakian, Linda Chirinian,
Lillian Hairabedian, Lilian Merdinian, Diana Minassian, Seta
Nalbandian, Annie Pampanini, Anna Piliguian, Lucille Sahagian,
Anna Semerdjian, Silvia Setrakian, Ovsanna Tatarian, Rita Tatevossian,
Gemma Melik Vartanian, and Silva Zadourian.
