CONCECRATION OF ST. APKAR ARMENIAN CHURCH
on-of-st-apkar-armenian-church/
Sep 28 2009
A dinner and dance event took place Saturday, September 19, 2009 at
the Melikian Cultural Hall. The guests were treated to the music of
Khachik and his band.
BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. APKAR ARMENIAN CHURCH OF ARIZONA
The first gathering of Armenians in Arizona took place in 1957. The
first Divine Liturgy was celebrated in 1963 by the His Eminence
Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, then Primate. The Parish is very well
organized and is comprised of Armenian Americans, Middle-Eastern
Armenians and Armenians from many other countries. We would like to
express our gratitude to His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian,
Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem for paying special attention to
this Parish and its abilities during his years as the Primate of the
Western Diocese.
The church acquired its own site in 1982 through the donation of a
two-acre land by Ms. Marguerite Hovsepian. The Melikian Cultural Center
was built with the donations of Mr. and Mrs. Greg Melikian and was
officially opened in January 1992. The Melikian Cultural Center served
as the gathering place for the church as well as other occasions.
Through Ms. Hosepian’s generosity, it became possible to start the
construction process of the church. On his pontifical visit to the
Western Diocese, His Holiness Karekin II attended the Arizona Parish on
June 16, 2005 and blessed the land on which St. Apkar was being built.
We would like to address a special mention to Pastor Zacharia
Saribekyan, Chairman of the Parish Council Dn. Jirair Avakian, the
construction committee, the church choir and the Parish faithful,
all, whose donations have contributed to the construction efforts of
St. Apkar Armenian Church.
CONCECRATION OF ST. APKAR ARMENIAN CHURCH
On Friday, September 20, 2009, beginning at 10:00 AM, the Primate
celebrated the Divine Liturgy. Serving at the Holy Altar were
Fr. Zacharia Saribekyan, pastor of the host church, Fr. Manoog
Markarian, pastor of St. John Garabed Armenian Church of Hollywood,
California and the Deacons of St. Apkar Church. The Khachadourian
Choir, led by Dn. Stepan Gozumyan, sang the hymns of the Divine
Liturgy. His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, assisted by
His Eminence Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian, consecrated St. Apkar
Armenian Church of Arizona in Scottsdale. The Primate acknowledged
and praised the hard work of Fr. Zacharia and awarded him with
a pectoral cross. Dn. Jirair Avakian, Mrs. Suzie Grigorians and
Mrs. Rita Bebekian were also awarded with gifts for their service to
the Church. The Primate also recognized the efforts of all donors,
faithful and volunteers. The Mayor of Scottsdale was also awarded
for his dedication and service to the Armenian-American community.
ST. APKAR BANQUET AND AWARDS
St. Apkar’s Consecration and the Divine Liturgy was followed by a
banquet in which His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian awarded
certificates and medals of appreciation to those people who were
vital in realizing the completion of St. Apkar Armenian Church. The
recipients included volunteers, the long-time faithful, deacons, the
Chairman of the Parish Council Dn. Jirair Avakian, the Fundraising
Committee Chairman Suzie Grigorians, Mrs. Rita Bebekian, members of
the Ladies Society and others. In his parting speech, His Eminence
blessed everyone present and bestowed well wishes to the faithful
clergy of St. Apkar Armenian Church.