Archpriest Fr. Mesrob Lakissian’s Message

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110 Years of Faith and Service

On the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the founding and service of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, I extend my heartfelt greetings to you all.

Years ago, the great writer Aram Haigaz wrote an article entitled “Twenty-Seven” in which he expressed his impressions of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City: “What days and celebrations of glory and grief haven’t the walls of this simple Church seen . . . What passionate speeches and profound sermons have been delivered from her Chancel and Altar. Her fate, dark and bright, has been one and the same as the fate of her people. She has been witness to death, birth, tears, laughter, ill fortune and blessing . . . In a word, her life and times have been the life and times of the Armenian people.”

That, indeed, has been true of the entire 110-year history of one of the oldest Armenian churches in America, our St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, which, for most of her history, has served as and worn the sublime title of Mayr Yegeghetsi, Mother Church.

During her 110 years, St. Illuminator’s has showed authentic motherhood to countless thousands of Armenians who set foot in this blessed country after the Armenian Genocide and the Second World War. She became an Ellis Island for Armenian Americans. She hosted thousands of immigrants arriving in New York through the work of ANCHA. In so doing, she truly earned her title of Mayr Yegeghetsi, becoming an Armenian Christian spiritual and cultural mother not just to her children but also to other Armenian churches that were founded by the generations who first entered America through her doors, before going forth elsewhere throughout this land to build their Armenian American dream. For the past 20 years, she has shared her maternal devotion, love, and care with our needy children in Armenia, Artsakh, and the Middle East. And for well more than a century, with a mother’s dedication, she has supported the preservation of Armenian Christian, spiritual, and cultural, and national values, and above all the Armenian language, through her Sunday and Armenian schools.

On the occasion of this historic anniversary, as pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, I turn thoughtfully and reverently through the pages of 110 years of Mayr Yegeghetsi’s rich spiritual, cultural, charitable, and social history to honor, remember, and pay my respects to all who throughout her history have served, as prelates, pastors, priests, trustees, delegates, altar servers, choir and ladies guild members, teachers, benefactors, and in so many other capacities, and to all who continue to serve with the same energy and dedication as the generations who came before and built the institution we now have the privilege and duty to sustain and pass on to the generations who will follow.

With renewed faith, we look ahead from our 110 years to continue serving our faithful people and challenging ourselves to further expand the scope of our ministry and mission.

It is my prayer and wish that God will keep our Mayr Yegeghetsi unshakable, and all who believe in His name in peace.

Prayerfully,


Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian
Pastor