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YORK, NY—On Sunday evening, October 23, a Pontifical Banquet
was held in the grand ballroom of the elegant Pierre Hotel in
honor of the 10th anniversary of the election and consecration
of Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia. It was the
culmination of His Holiness’ visit to the Mid-Atlantic
area and followed the Pontifical Divine Liturgy at St. Bartholomew’s
Church with the participation of the clergy and the faithful
of parishes in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
During
his four-day stay in the New York metropolitan area, His Holiness
officiated at the Badarak at St. Bartholomews Church, presided
at the 75th anniversary celebration for the Armenian Theological
Seminary in Antelias at Sts. Vartanantz Church in New Jersey,
presided over an ecumenical conference at New York’s Interchurch
Center, and met with national and local legislators. He was
welcomed to the area with Hrashapar services at St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral. Prior to his visit to the Eastern Prelacy, the Catholicos
made pontifical visits to the Canadian and Western Prelacies.
Joining
His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern
Prelacy, and V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General,
were the following special guests: Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.
Prelate of the Western Prelacy; Archbishop Manuel Batakian,
Exarch of the Armenian Catholics in the U.S. and Canada; Rev.
Dr. Samuel Kobia, General Secretary of the World Council of
Churches (WCC); Rev. Father Untzak Nalbandian representing Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
(Eastern); Rev. Berj Gulleyan, pastor of the Armenian Presbyterian
Church, Paramus, NJ; Armenia’s Ambassador to the United
Nations Armen Martirosyan and Mrs. Martirosyan; Lebanon’s
Consul General Mohammad El-Harake. Joining the guests on the
dais were Jack Mardoian, Esq., chairman of the Prelacy Executive
Council; and Steering Committee Chairman Dr. George Dermksian
and Mrs. Dermksian.
During
the evening seven outstanding individuals received coveted medals
from the Cilician Catholicosate, including Judge Sarkis Teshoian,
Hagop Kouyoumdjian, Iris Papazian, Dr. Dertad Manguikian, Richard
Sarajian, Esq., Antranig Boudakian and Harry Koundakjian.
Following
the invocation by His Holiness, the able Master of Ceremonies
Dr. Dermksian warmly welcomed the more than 350 people present.
Jack Mardoian in leading the assembled in a toast to the Vehapar
on the 10th anniversary of his enthronement, extolled the noble
virtues of the Antelias Seminary. “We as youngsters were
blessed to be taught by the graduate priests of the Antelias
Seminary. The renewal of our church needs a renewed clergy,”
he said and reminded those present that the main purpose of
His Holiness’ visits to Canada and the United States was
the raising of funds “to make it the highest caliber seminary.”
To give an insight into the diligent work done for the students,
a fascinating video showing the educational, social, and extracurricular
life in the Seminary was shown
IMMENSE
CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT
Keynote speaker
Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, well known as a humanist, scholar, educator
and pastor, paid eloquent tribute to the “immense contributions”
of Catholicos Aram I to the Ecumenical Movement. He related
His Holiness’ special gifts and talents at the WCC 5th
assembly in Nairobi in 1975 when he represented his church as
a youth delegate, and in subsequent years was elected to leadership
positions in the WCC at a very young age.
“You
have since made a long journey and served many consultative
and decision-making bodies,” Dr. Kobia stated, addressing
His Holiness. “For more than a decade, and for an unprecedented
two terms, you have worked to lead the Council through a period
of some instability, turmoil, and challenge. Thanks to your
leadership, the Council today enjoys a healthy financial situation,
and has managed the organizational changes responsibly and satisfactorily.”
He also praised His Holiness’ “profound intellectual”
contributions to the ecumenical debate and his standing not
just as an Orthodox leader, but also as an “Armenian”
Orthodox leader.
“You
have never forgotten this, and you have not allowed any of us
to forget it either,” Dr. Kobia continued. “For
many years, you have generously shared the rich theological,
spiritual and cultural heritage of the Armenian people; this
small nation that was privileged to receive the Gospel so early,
to become the first country in the world to declare Christianity
as the official state religion, and to witness faithfully to
the Gospel up to the point of becoming the victims of a cruel
genocide,” he stated.
“We
are grateful, not only because you have taught us the long and
painful history of your people, but mainly because you have
helped us to draw important ecumenical lessons from it,”
he asserted. “I know it is your contention that restorative
justice could be the model both for the Armenian genocide and
for other crimes against humanity still awaiting justice,”
he declared, and pledged that the WCC is fully committed for
justice on the issue of the Armenian genocide.
Dr. Kobia
concluded by expressing the WCC’s deep appreciation to
the Armenian Church for “offering this great son of Armenia
and a great world leader” to the Ecumenical Movement.
“His Holiness has been the Lord’s special gift to
the WCC at a very critical time in the history of the ecumenical
movement,” he declared to a standing ovation.
The twenty-one-year-old
gifted baritone Suren Hazarian who had opened the special evening
with the American and Armenian national anthems, delighted the
audience with the Troubadour’s Song from the David Beg
opera, and his rendition of the beloved Hayastan. He was accompanied
on the piano by Janet Markarian.
Following
special greetings from Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Archbishop
Oshagan Choloyan emphasized that the Antelias Seminary is the
“home of the Armenian people”. He revealed that
107 priests in the U.S. are graduates of this educational institution.
He also paid tribute to His Holiness on the tenth anniversary
of his enthronement, and expressed appreciation to the steering
committee and local committees that organized the visit.
SERVICE
IS SOURCE AND BASIS OF OUR AUTHORITY
In his inspiring
message, the Catholicos expressed his appreciation to all responsible
for preparing his visit. Special thanks were given to Archbishop
Oshagan, Dr. Dermksian, Dr. Kobia, and the Lebanese Consul,
and Armenian Ambassador.
As a citizen
of Lebanon where he was born and raised, Vehapar related that
Armenians have been identified with the spirit, pain and suffering
of Lebanon. “After the Genocide, Lebanon became the springboard,
for the revitalization and struggle of the Armenian Diaspora,”
he stated.
He called
his relationship with the World Council of Churches, as his
“second home and school for his spiritual formation. I
have identified my actions with the WCC. It has opened new horizons
before me.”
Stating
his special feelings for Armenia, the Catholicos declared, “We
weren’t born in Armenia, but Armenia was born and grew
up in us. We wanted to see a free, democratic republic, and
today it has become a reality. We pledge our support to Armenia.”
His Holiness
reserved his final appreciation for “our people. You are
the church,” he said. “We receive our strength,
guidance, motivation, and dreams from you. Service is the source
and basis of our authority. Don’t forget us in your thoughts,
your dreams, and your generosity.”
Describing
his pride as a graduate of the Seminary, he stressed that it
played an instrumental role in the Armenian Church and Diaspora.
“It is a living reality in educating and serving our people.
Attend, strengthen and glorify our church so you can benefit
from it,” he stated in conclusion, to thunderous applause.
AWARDS
Archbishop
Oshagan introduced the seven individuals who were honored as
His Holiness presented the medals to each with personal words
of appreciation. Receiving the Prince of Cilicia medal were
Judge Sarkis Teshoian, Hagop Kouyoumdjian and Dr. Dertad Manguikian.
Receiving the Knight of Cilicia medal were Antranig Boudakian,
Iris Papazian and Richard Sarajian, Esq. Receiving the Mesrob
Mashtotz medal was Harry Koundakjian.
COMMEMORATIVE
BOOKLETS
Three booklets
were distributed to guests including a 64-page booklet, The
Antelias Seminary: Seventy-Five Years of Service and Leadership,
written in English by Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, about
the Seminary’s history and his experiences as a Seminarian;
a 76-page booklet, From Cilicia to Antelias…from Wilderness
to Mission…from Orphanage to Seminary, written in Armenian
by Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of the Canadian Prelacy,
and the Commemorative Booklet, Toward the Light of Knowledge:
A Celebration of Service and Leadership, dedicated to His Holiness
and the tenth anniversary of his Pontificate.
The singing
of “Giligia” by all present brought to a close a
memorable evening of inspiration and strong memories that would
remain with each attendee for a long time to come.
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