EVENT COMMEMORATING TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF PASSING OF CATHOLICOS VASKEN
I HELD IN NEW YORK
NEW YORK, December 9 (Noyan Tapan). “Catholicos Vasken I presided over
a period of tremendous historic importance. And in the heroic way he
faced the challenges and opportunities of that time, he himself made
history,” said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), on Sunday, December 5, 2004,
during a luncheon commemorating the 10th anniversary of the passing of
Catholicos Vasken I. “By remembering Vehapar in this way, I hope we
have been inspired to envision the future, for our church and nation,”
Archbishop Barsamian said. “His Holiness Vasken I was the sort of man
who thought and labored for tomorrow, and remembering him should
always force us to look forward. That will surely be the best way to
honor his memory, and to advance the vital legacy he has left to us.”
According to the Press Office of the Diocese, the day began with a
Divine Liturgy and requiem service for Catholicos Vasken I. St. Vartan
Cathedral of New York City was filled with people who turned out for
the service. Then almost 500 people attended the memorial program at
New York City’s Diocesan Center.
Catholicos Vasken I was “a man of faith, hope, love” who was
practical, organized, and looked at life with general optimism, said
Edward Jamie Jr., who co-chaired the anniversary event. Jamie added
that Catholicos Vasken’s greatest achievement was in “bringing people
closer to the church, and strengthening their faith. We should live
with his inspiration and strengthen our spirituality.”
The event’s other co-chair, Bedros Givelekian, speaking in Armenian,
reminded the audience of one of Vehapar’s favorite quotes, “As much as
you drink the water of Armenia, you never become satisfied.”
Reiterating one of the church leader’s strong philosophies – “Armenia
cannot live without the diaspora, and the diaspora cannot live without
Armenia” – Givelekian encouraged the attendees to “Be proud of your
free independent Armenia.”
Dr. Arthur Kubikian, speaking on behalf of the Romanian Armenian
community, recounted Vehapar’s moving early life story and his
relationship to the Armenian community in Romania. He introduced
Vehapar’s first cousin, Arshalouys Baljian, and his student, Nono
Krikorian, both of whom were present at the luncheon.
Expressing profound admiration and love for the church leader,
Dr. Kubikian recounted His Holiness’ dynamism, modesty, and
discipline, and paid tribute to his role as a “friend, teacher,
mentor, community activist, and pastor. We should keep his philosophy
in mind.”
Ambassador Harry Gilmore, the first U.S. ambassador to the independent
Republic of Armenia, in his warm and empathetic manner, spoke of his
love and respect for the Vehapar, whom he had met shortly after his
arrival in Armenia in 1993. “Vehapar epitomized nobility of character,
humility, grace, and authority, and always had a twinkle in his eye. I
was under his spiritual umbrella,” he stated.
Ambassador Gilmore observed that Vehapar had three imperatives:
guaranteeing Armenia’s political security, rebuilding Armenia’s
economy, and advancing the prosperity of Armenian culture.
By virtue of his progressive outlook, the Armenian church leader
welcomed the independence of the Armenian Republic, “endorsing it
anxiously and unhesitatingly,” Ambassador Gilmore said.
In his sermon, the Primate meditated on Catholicos’ Vasken’s epitaph:
“Love Never Falters” – which the Catholicos himself directed to be
inscribed on his tombstone.
“His Holiness Vasken I was not merely a preacher of love. He was,
always and above all, an exemplar of the way of love,” Archbishop
Barsamian said.
Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of St. Vartan Cathedral, served as the
master of ceremony for the luncheon, which also featured a touching
video produced by Armenia’s Shoghagat TV, featuring archival footage
of church figures from the 20th century. The attendees were also
presented with an obsidian khatchkar from Armenia and an informative
and touching booklet outlining the life of Catholicos Vasken I which
was compiled by Dr. Louiza Kubikian, Fr. Krikor Maksoudian, Nubar
Kupelian, Chris Zakian, and Armen Garabedian.
The memorial program also featured a recitation by Lori Manukian, a
young student in the Diocese’s Khrimian Lyceum program, of an
Armenian-language poem, “Catholicos Vasken I”, by Sylva der
Stepanian. Pianist Seta Karakashian performed two pieces and also
accompanied the St. Vartan Cathedral Choir, conducted by Maestro
Khoren Mekanejian and featuring soloist Hasmig Mekanejian. During the
luncheon Mekanejian, former choir director at the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin, also offered his personal reminiscence of Catholicos
Vasken I.
The choir, accompanied by Florence Avakian on the organ, also
performed during the morning’s Divine Liturgy, which was celebrated by
Archbishop Barsamian.
The anniversary memorial was coordinated by a dedicated committee,
made up of: Edward Jamie Jr., Bedros Givelekian, Sarkis Matosian,
Kegham Tcholakian, Rev. Vazken Karayan, Fr. Mardiros Chevian,
Dr. Louiza Kubikian, Gregory Manuelian, Dr. Arthur Kubikian, Edward
Barsamian, and Nubar Kupelian.
In 1955, as Armenia struggled under communism, the Armenian Church
turned to Levon Baljian, who was born in Bucharest, Romania, to
parents who had fled Turkish oppression. The 43-year-old Bishop Vasken
Baljian was the Primate of Romania. On October 2, 1955, he was
consecrated as the 130th Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians.
For 40 years, Catholicos Vasken I steered the Armenian Church through
a variety of challenges and nurtured its growth and expansion. His
ministry was one of rebuilding: from restoring the physical structures
of ruined sanctuaries, to invigorating the internal workings of the
church by ordaining new clergymen and visiting the communities of the
diaspora. This was no small task during Armenia’s Soviet era.
Numerous churches throughout Armenia were rebuilt during his tenure,
including the historic sanctuaries of St. Hripsime, St. Gayane,
St. Shoghakat, St. Mesrob Mashtots in Oshakan, and the monasteries of
Geghard and Khor Virab. He also fervently encouraged construction of
new churches in the diaspora, including St. Vartan Cathedral in New
York City.