Archpriest Father Vahrich Shirinian
November 2, 1923—August 14, 2010

Archpriest Father Vahrich Shirinian (baptismal name Haroutune) was born in Beirut, Lebanon, on November 2, 1923, where he received his primary and secondary education. He graduated from the Theological Seminary of the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon, and was ordained to the married priesthood by Bishop Terenig Poladian in the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Antelias on June 28, 1953.

He married Shake Bedrosian on August 8, 1952, and they raised a loving family of four sons. Der Hayr and Yeretzgin came to the United States in September 1955 and he began his service in California at St. Paul Armenian Church (Fresno) 1956-57; St. Gregory Armenian Church (San Francisco), 1957-1963; and Holy Martyrs Armenian Church (Encino), 1963-1966.

In 1966 he and his family relocated to the east coast to assume pastoral leadership of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey, a service he continued until his retirement in 1991. During the 25 years of his service at Sts. Vartanantz the parish grew and today is one of the largest parishes within the Eastern Prelacy.

Der Vahrich was granted the honor of wearing the Pectoral Cross in 1963 by His Holiness Catholicos Khoren I, and in the mid-1980s was elevated to the rank of Archpriest by His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II.

He was an ardent supporter of education and helped advance both the Sunday School and the Nareg Armenian School at Sts. Vartanantz. He was also a staunch supporter of the Armenian day school movement, first in California, and later in New Jersey where he supported the founding of the Armenian School of New Jersey (now Hovnanian School), and warmly welcomed the school’s inaugural year in 1976 within the Sts. Vartanantz facilities.

After his retirement in 1991 he remained an active presence in New Jersey and served the Prelacy as an outreach priest for many years. Der Vahrich traveled north, south, and west to various parishes within the Eastern Prelacy as needed to celebrate the Divine Liturgy and offer the sacraments.

With advancing age, Der Hayr and Yeretzgin took up residence for a short time at the Ararat Home in Mission Hills, California, but soon returned to New Jersey to be closer to their family and friends. During this time Der Hayr and Yeretzgin attended Badarak nearly every Sunday at Sts. Vartanantz. With the advent of health issues, they took up residence at the New Jersey Armenian Home in Emerson.

Der Vahrich died on Saturday, August 14, 2010. He is survived by Yeretzgin Shake and his sons and daughters-in-law: Sarkis and Marie-Jeanne; Shant and Cathy; Ara and Liza; Haig and Debbie; and nine grandchildren.

The Homecoming Wake service will take place at 7:30 p.m., August 19, 2010, at Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church, 461 Bergen Boulevard, Ridgefield, New Jersey. The Extreme Unction will be officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Yeprem Tabakian, former prelate of the Western Prelacy, during the Divine Liturgy which will start at 10 a.m., on Friday, August 20, 2010, at Sts. Vartanantz Church. Interment will follow at George Washington Cemetery, Paramus, New Jersey.

In-lieu-of-flowers donations may be made to Sts. Vartanantz Church or the Eastern Prelacy.

Asdvadz hokeen lousavoreh. May God illuminate his soul.