H. H. Aram I Engages with Young Armenian-Americans at the Cathedral

Nov 26, 2025

On Saturday, November 15th, St. Illuminator’s enjoyed the privilege of hosting His Holiness Aram I at the Cathedral for a forum with young adults entitled “Conversation with the Catholicos: A Dialogue Between H. H. Aram I and Young Adults of the Armenian-American Community.” The event brought together an audience of nearly 150 participants consisting primarily of young professionals and university students ranging in age from 18 to 40, joined by a number both older and younger.

“Conversation with the Catholicos” was the latest of such dialogues that Aram Vehapar has held with young members of the community on each of his visits. It was his third at the Cathedral, the first having taken place in 1997 and the second in 2015. Saturday’s forum was one of four formal events in the New York area celebrating the 30th anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness as Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.

The program consisted of a moderated 75-minute question-and-answer session preceded by a brief introductory program of remarks, recitations, and the singing of a Sharagan.
Archpriest Fr. Mesrob Lakissian welcomes all gathered. Seated with H. H. Aram I from left:
H. G. Bishop Dajad Ashekian, H. E. Archbishop Khoren Doghramadjian, 
H. E. Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, H. E. Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian,
H. E. Archbishop Papken Charian, and Very Rev. Fr. Ardag Arabian.
After a traditional Agh oo Hats blessing by His Holiness as he entered the Cathedral and a procession of clergy into Pashalian Hall, Archpriest Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Paster of the Cathedral, opened the event with his welcome, and invited Armen Morian, Esq., Sub-deacon and Chairman of the Cathedral’s Board of Trustees, to step forth as master of ceremonies. Mr. Morian then introduced Aram Vehapar with brief appreciation of Vehapar’s “remarkable tenure” of 30 years as Catholicos and “the uncompromised leader of the Armenian nation.” “By bestowing upon you and abundantly all the gifts of ability for leadership, God has smiled upon you, and by giving you to us, He has smiled upon us,” Mr. Morian said.
Armen Morian, Esq. introduces H. H. Aram I.
Tamar Kanarian moderates the dialogue with H. H. Aram I. 
After Aram Vehapar delivered his opening message, Mr. Morian invited Tamar Kanarian, Secretary of the Executive Council of the Eastern Prelacy to introduce the dialogue for which she also served as moderator. The theme for the dialogue was “What can the Armenian Church do to serve Armenian-American young adults, facilitate their spiritual, cultural, and community needs in the contemporary world, and play a meaningful role in their lives?” However, the discussion covered a wider array of topics, ranging from Armenian Christianity under pressure, to dual identity, to mixed marriages, to artificial intelligence and technology, and more. At the close of the dialogue, Ms. Kanarian invited Aram Vehapar to give his closing message. 
H. H. Aram I gives his message. Seated with him from the left: H. E. Archbishop Khoren, H. E. Archbishop Anoushavan, H. E. Archbishop Kegham, and H. E. Archbishop Papken.
In his opening message, Aram Vehapar emphasized that “it is imperative to give ample space to the youth in Armenian life.” “I make this same suggestion with special emphasis whenever I have meetings with the responsible leaders of our community and with the youth during my Pontifical visits. I make the same suggestion because I feel and see that our youth has not yet been given the necessary place and role in our common life. The need for this is imperative, especially in the contemporary world. Our young people are called upon to bring their participation to the life of our Church and our structures, utilizing their professional expertise and their unique perspective on the modern world.”

The brief cultural program that served as a prelude to the dialogue featured a reading by Sahrad Melkonian of “Khatchû” (The Cross) by Abp. Yeghishe Tourian, followed by a singing of the Sharagan“Soorp Soorp” from the Divine Liturgy by Anahit Zakaryan, Choirmaster of Mayr Yegeghetsi, accompanied on the piano by Hasmik Mekhanejian, Choirmaster of St. Vartan Cathedral and daughter of Maestro Khoren Mekhanejian of blessed memory, and finally, a reading by Zivart Balikjian of “Yegeghetsin Haygagan” (The Armenian Church) by Vahan Tekeyan.

In keeping with tradition, the program concluded with a singing of the timeless, emotionally powerful patriotic song “Giligia” and the Pontifical anthem “Ee Véh Partsants.” Afterward, Aram Vehapar blessed the table and a fellowship hour ensued, serving Armenian mezze.

Participants received as a parting gift, H. H. Aram I’s book The Armenian Church, together with a commemorative bookmark.

Accompanying H. H. Aram I was a delegation of senior clergy consisting of H. E. Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy, H. E. Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy, H. E. Archbishop Papken Charian, the Prelate of Canada, H. E. Archbishop Khoren Doghramadjian, Pastor of St. Stephen’s Armenian Church in New Britain, Connecticut, and H. G. Bishop Dajad Ashekian, Executive Director of the Catholicosate, joined by other clergy traveling with Aram Vehapar and clergy serving in the Eastern Prelacy. Also present were Col. Aram Sarafian, Esq., Chairman of the Executive Council of the Eastern Prelacy, and Berdj Apkarian, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles and member of the Executive Council of the Western Prelacy.

The program was streamed live on the Facebook pages of the Eastern Prelacy and the Cathedral.

To view more photos, please click here.