PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: cathcil@cathcil.org
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
FUNERAL OF VOSGEPERAN ARZOUMANIAN,
A DEVOTED PERSON OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH
CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA
The Armenian Church and nation, and in particular the Catholicosate of
Cilicia with all its structures and dioceses, paid their last respects on
March 21 to one of their most praiseworthy and loyal followers Vosgeperan
Arzoumanian during a funeral service held in the St. Gregory the Illuminator
Cathedral in Antelias.
Arzoumanian had both served the Diocese of Lebanon in its National Council
and Central Executive Council for 40 years and worked at the Saint Joseph
French University in Lebanon during his lifetime.
Pontifical Vicar General Archbishop Ardavazt Terterian conducted the
service during which Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, Primate of the Diocese of
Lebanon and V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian read His Holiness Aram I’s
condolence letters in Arabic and Armenian.
Government officials, academics, representatives from national political
parties and unions, present and former deputies and ministers and a large
number of mourners attended the service.
In his condolence letter the Pontiff stressed the late Mr. Arzoumanian’s
values as a human being, thanks to which he gained the love and respect of
all his acquaintances and colleagues. His Holiness particularly highlighted
Arzoumanian’s humility, loyalty and dedication to service.
A mourning gathering in the hall of the Veharan followed the service. All
the speakers, Dikran Djinbashian on behalf of the Diocese of Lebanon, Father
Jean Dukree, former president of the Saint Joseph University and its current
president, Father Rene Shamoussy spoke with praise about Mr. Arzoumanian’s
dedication and commitment towards all his obligations and responsibilities.
A Brief Biography
Vosgeperan Arzoumanian was born in Turkey in 1924 to parents from the
region of Yozghat. While still a newborn, only forty days old, he moved with
his parents to Beirut.
In 1958 he married Shake Mahdessian and they had four children.
Studying in the Eastern Studies School of the French Saint Joseph
University, he received degrees in Armenology and eastern sociology. He
continued his education in the same university receiving a degree in
Business from its legal and economic department.
Arzoumanian worked for two years in the St. Gregory the Illuminator
Djemaran of Jesuit Fathers and served briefly in the economic department of
the French Mandate.
In 1945-1953 he worked as the chief secretary of Saint Joseph University’s
Eastern Studies and Eastern Sociology department. In 1953-1975 he occupied
the post of head secretary of the same university’s legal, economic and
business programs to be appointed as director of the Humanities and Social
Sciences Department in 1975. At the same time he served as a member of the
university’s board of directors.
Alongside his Academic career, Arzoumanian had an active contribution in
the life of his own Armenian people starting in 1956. He was appointed a
member of the Economic Committee of the Diocese of Lebanon for several
consecutive times and served as the chairman of the Educational Committee of
Armenian National Schools more than once. He was also elected several times
as chairman of the Armenian National Council.
Starting in 1963, he served as the delegate of the Diocese of Lebanon to
the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s General Assembly. Since 1965 and until his
death he was a member of the Diocese’s highest body, serving as its chairman
in 1987-1995. Also starting in 1963 he served several times as a member of
the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s Central Executive Council, being elected as
its deputy chairman in 2003.
Arzoumanian served as chairman of the Khatcher Kalousdian Pedagogical
Center’s Committee as well as of the board of Trustees of the Hamazkayine
Educational Institutions. He represented the Catholicosate of Cilicia in a
number of international and ecumenical conferences.
Arzoumanian has also worked with Armenian and foreign language newspapers
and periodicals, writing articles on national, religious, economic and
social issues. He published articles in "Aztag", "Hasg", "Spurk", "Masis",
"L’Orient Le Jour", "La Review du Liban", "Travaux et Jour" and the
Paris-based "Direct" newspapers and magazines.
In 1974 he was awarded the Lebanese Government’s National Cedars Medal of
the "Knight" rank as recognition of his academic services. The President of
the Republic of Lebanon awarded him with the National Cedars medal of the
"Commander" rank in 1997. He also received the Saint Joseph University’s
Honor Medal in 1996.
On 19 March 2004 His Holiness Aram I presented him with the Catholicosate
of Cilicia’s "Cilician Prince" medal for his dedication to the life of the
Armenian people and its church.
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View the photo here:
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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.