NEW YORK, NY—The majestic sharagan, “Hrashapar” rang out as two rows of scouts holding candles, escorted Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia into New Jersey’s St. Vartanantz Armenian Church, on Friday evening, October 21. The large crowd which filled the church, greeted him with enthusiastic applause.

The evening was a special tribute to the virtues, values and sacred mission of the Seminary of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias, which has produced so many outstanding clerical and lay leaders, and has had a profound influence among Armenians throughout the world. This visit of His Holiness to Canada, the West Coast, and now the Eastern United States is specifically to mark the 75th anniversary celebration of this prophetic event.

The Very Rev. Shahe Panossian, pastor of St. Vartanantz Church, warmly welcomed the assemblage and the Vehapar’s entourage which included Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, and Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelates of the Eastern and Western United States, respectively, and clergy from New York, New Jersey and Canada.

Father Shahe paid tribute to the founding of the Antelias Seminary, to the 1600th anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet, and the tenth year marking the enthronement of the Vehapar. “The Seminary is a revelation of hope guarding the faith of our church,” he said, and called the invention of the Armenian alphabet “larger than our life, a priceless divine gift which can’t be valued without our faith. The most important parts of our nation’s soul is embedded in our literary heritage which made us so unique among so many.”

The Rev. Father Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy, in an inspirational address in Armenian, extolled the virtues of the Seminary. He stated that the Seminary is not an ordinary educational establishment. “The leaders of the church and the teachers deeply influenced the students throughout the years, and major international universities have honored their graduates. Its influence has been profound, flourishes today, and will continue to do so tomorrow.”

Speaking in English, Judge Sarkis Teshoian, related the detailed history of the Cilician Catholicosate until present times. He called the Antelias Seminary “a living entity, the clay from which the Armenian people are molded. The Seminary has produced teachers, clergy, choir members, and leaders of social service organizations. The value and impact of the Seminary is overwhelming,” he said with obvious emotion. “The majority of the clergy serving in North America have been taught there. The Seminary is the phoenix rising from the ashes.”

Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, before introducing the Vehapar, described the Seminary in eloquent remarks, as “the heart of the Catholicosate and our people. The Seminary is not just a school, but a place which transformed us from boys to men so we can serve our church and our people. The Seminary was born over our bones, and brought up our people. The Seminary will live through you. We need to make sure that it survives, and grows to even greater heights.

PRODUCT OF SEEDS SOWN

Catholicos Aram I poetically described the Seminary as an area where seeds are sown. “Some die, some become wheat, life’s fountain. This is the Seminary,” he stated. “For 75 years, the Seminary has been the product of seeds being sown and harvested. Our students became men, but didn’t stay within its walls. They went out to our people and gave them their service, a journey of light and spirit.

“The Seminary belongs to you,” he stated with emphasis, his voice ringing out. “It is a place which struggles for the rights of our people. This is a time for self-reflection, to reassess our deficiencies and our setbacks. The 75th anniversary is also an occasion to look towards the future, to strengthen the mission of the Seminary.

“For the Seminary to play an instrumental role in promoting the spirit and values of our people, we need individuals with commitment and vision, to render this invaluable service to our people,” he declared. “The Seminary belongs to you. My expectation is that this celebration will become a landmark event, and that the Seminary will remain strong with you always.”

During the church service, Gospel readings had been recited by the Very Rev. Father Daniel Garabedian, and Rev. Father Nareg Terterian, pastor of the St. Sarkis Armenian Church. The St. Vartanantz Church choir directed by Deacon Nishan Baljian, with organ accompaniment by Ara Dinkjian, sang several hymns, including the “Seminary Anthem”, “Ashagerdk Krisdos”, “Vork Zartaretsin”, the Ponitifical Hymn, and the opening sharagan “Hrashapar”. Following the benediction by His Holiness, the faithful joined in the singing of “Giligia.”

Catholicos Aram I and his entourage then joined the assemblage in the church hall where festive tables set with Armenian delicacies had been prepared by the St. Vartanantz church members. The people enthusiastically lined up to kiss the hand of His Holiness and relay their personal greetings, as the memorable evening came to an end.