The Auxiliaries of Mayr Yegeghetsi
The Ladies Guild
The Armenian word for parish is “dzookh,” which literally means smoke; the smoke of the hearth; and parishioners are known as “dzkhakans,” people of the smoke of the hearth.
For seventeen centuries, the Armenian Church has been a hearth not just for the spiritual needs of the Armenian people, but for communal fellowship. What it takes to make a hearth is the loving care and attention of our mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters. Without the women of the Armenian Church there would be no Armenian Church.
The concept of a Ladies Guild is a uniquely American expression of an ancient and beautiful tradition of participation by Armenian women in the ministry of the Armenian Church. Ever since there was an Armenian Church, there was a ‘Ladies Guild,’ whether it was called that or something else or by no name at all.
The Ladies Auxiliary at the 50th anniversary of Mayr Yegeghetsi, circa 1965.
The Ladies Guild today. Pictured with Der Mesrob, in front: Shogher Vartanian, Azadouhi Vartanian, Nelly Aprahamian, Ani Piranian, Lalig Vartanian, Yeretsgeen Ojeen Lakissian, Sossie Vartanian, Shoghig Parsehian, Marie Haroutunian, Rosita Boiatchian.; and on the stage: Sonya Martirosyan, Sevan Basmadjian, Hermine Tervizian, Tamar Lakissian, Liza Yessaian, and Gayane Hakobyan.
Mayr Yegeghtsi’s Ladies Guild is older than Mayr Yegeghetsi herself. The Guild had its beginnings before St. Illuminator’s was officially established in 1915. As early as 1913, the St. Illuminator’s congregation had already organized a ladies’ “auxiliary,” together with a choir and Armenian school.
Thus, for more than 110 years, our “Dignants Miyootyoon” has been organizing functions and events, supporting fellowship, and creating the atmosphere of a loving Armenian home in our Mayr Yegeghetsi.
The work the energetic and resourceful Ladies of our Ladies Guild, past and present, have done and continue to do transcends the seemingly ordinary. The Armenian Church is a spiritual and cultural hearth and the work our Ladies Guild does is an indispensable facilitator of the ministry of our Church. They nourish and nurture us and our Christian fellowship. And what is nourished and nurtured grows and flourishes.
What has not been done by thesen hands. Ancients and new hands,
These hands, mother’s hands”
— Barouyr Sevag
Whether it is organizing fundraisers in traditional, set-piece events such as our annual Thanksgiving and Mothers Days luncheons and bake sales, or preparing table fellowships for our services and events, such as during Lent, or preparing Madagh, or supporting Fellowship Hours, or in the numerous other ways in which they serve, the work our Ladies perform is a pillar of our Church. It also raises a significant amount of funds annually for the support of our ministry.
We owe a profound and continuing debt of gratitude to the Ladies of our Ladies Guild, those whose blessed memories we honor, and those whose loving labors today and every day make our Mayr Yegeghetsi an Armenian home away from home.