PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (E.)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
November 23, 2004
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EASTERN DIOCESE’S MEMORIAL TO CATHOLICOS VASKEN I WILL FEATURE
DISTINGUISHED MAIN SPEAKER, U.S. AMB. HARRY GILMORE
Renowned Pianist Seta Karakashian Will Offer Musical Tribute to
Catholicos Vasken on Sun., Dec. 5
* * *
The memorial service and program honoring the blessed memory of His
Holiness Vasken I, the late Catholicos of All Armenians, has already
elicited an overwhelming response from the public. Certainly, the
esteem and love felt by Armenian Americans towards Catholicos Vasken I
has only magnified in the 10 years since his passing.
The special memorial event will take place on the afternoon of Sunday,
December 5, at the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern),
in New York City. The Divine Liturgy and requiem service will begin at
10:30 a.m., in St. Vartan Cathedral, celebrated by His Eminence
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate. During the service, an Encyclical
from the current Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II,
will be read to the congregation.
The religious service will be followed by a memorial luncheon and
program, at 1:00 p.m., in Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium. The
program for the day will include remarks, musical performances, as well
as a video retrospective of Vasken I.
The Diocese is honored that the distinguished main speaker at the event
will be Ambassador Harry Gilmore, the first U.S. Ambassador to the
Republic of Armenia, who took on his duties shortly after Armenia gained
its independence. Amb. Gilmore’s tenure of service coincided with some
of the final years of Catholicos Vasken–years filled with momentous
events–and the ambassador counts himself as a great admirer of the
Catholicos he witnessed.
Leading the musical portion of the program will be the renowned pianist
Seta Karakashian, whose most recent recording has been very well
received. She will play Harutyunyan’s “Hovuh puchets lerneroum” (The
Wind Blew in the Mountains) and “Sasountsineri baruh” (The Dance of
Sassoon).
In addition, the St. Vartan Cathedral Choir, under the direction of
Maestro Khoren Mekanejian, will present Tchaikovsky’s “Kyrie Eleison”
and Mekanejian’s “Etchmiadzin Cantata.” Maestro Mekanejian–who was the
longtime conductor of the choir of Holy Etchmiadzin during the
pontificate of Catholicos Vasken–selected the Tchaikovsky piece because
it was greatly admired by Catholicos Vasken, who always requested to
hear this work in musical programs.
Vasken I is remembered as an exceptional, unique personality in the
modern history of the Armenian Church, who preserved and maintained the
prestige of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin under difficult
circumstances. Through his pontifical journeys abroad, he established
an enduring bridge between the homeland and the diaspora.
This inspiring legacy will be remembered on Sunday, December 5, at the
Diocesan Center, 630 Second Avenue (corner of 34th Street), in New York
City. The Divine Liturgy begins at 10:30 a.m., and the memorial
luncheon at 1:00 p.m. For information, call (212) 686-0710, or log onto
the Eastern Diocese’s website:
–11/23/04
* * *
PHOTO CAPTION: Ambassador Harry Gilmore, the first U.S. ambassador to
the Republic of Armenia, will be the distinguished main speaker at a
memorial luncheon recalling the inspiring legacy of His Holiness Vasken
I, of blessed memory, the late Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians. The event marking the 10th anniversary of the His Holiness’
passing will take place on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, at New York’s St.
Vartan Cathedral complex.
PHOTO CAPTION: Renowned pianist Seta Karakashian will perform during the
musical portion of the Eastern Diocese’s tribute to the memory of
Catholicos Vasken I, on the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, at New
York’s St. Vartan Cathedral complex.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress