Category: News

On Sunday, February 24, His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan presided over the Divine Liturgy and the Requiem Service at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral. Requiem Service was held in memory of deceased members and benefactors of the Armenian Relief Society. During the fellowship hour that followed the services, Archbishop Oshagan praised the ARS’s service and dedication to the Armenian community

On Sunday, February the second at the Pashalian Hall of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in Manhattan,the audience learned much from the lecture/multimedia presentation given by Dr. Artak Movsisyan, professor at the Yerevan State University and organized by the New York and New Jersey
chapters of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society. This event was a part of the Hamazkayin Eastern USA Distinguished Lecture
series, celebrating the 500th anniversary of Armenian printing. Prior to New York, Dr. A. Movsisyan had given a lecture in Boston, and will continue his lecture tour in major cultural centers of the West Coast.

Despite his young age, Dr. Movsisyan has made a serious contribution to the study of pre-Christian Armenian history and writing. His career started in 1991 at the State Historical Museum of Armenia, where he worked as a
scientific worker till 1997 and since then at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, as a senior scientific worker. Parallel to his scientific work, since 1998, Dr. Movsisyan has been teaching history at Yerevan State University as an Associate professor.

On Sunday afternoon in attendance were Mrs. Hasmig Aprahamian and Mr. Hagop Melkonian, representatives of the Eastern United States Regional Executive Committee of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society.
Mrs. Hasmig Aprahamian made the opening remarks and invited Dr. Ara Caprielian, chairman of the New York chapter, who was the master of ceremonies of this event. Dr. Caprielian presented a brief introduction to
Dr. Artak Movsisyan’s vast body of research publications in Armenian, Russian and English languages.

Dr. Movsisyan’s lecture was brimming with facts from primary sources of Armenian and non-Armenian origin, proving that in the pre-Mashdots or pre-Christian era Armenians had a well-developed writing, spanning several
millennia.

After a lively question and answer period, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, expressed his thoughts upon the lecture and once again congratulated Hamazkayin on organizing diverse and
interesting programs.

Following his closing remarks, Dr. Caprielian commented that to guarantee Armenia’s security and viability a disciplined and motivated army is necessary, but scholars of our national history as Dr. Artak Movsiayn are
also vitally important for teaching and presenting our true history to counteract the revisionists and pseudo-historians attempting to distort factual history. He also thanked Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian and the Board of
Trustees for welcoming and hosting several of Hamazkayin’s programs at the Pashalian Hall. Fr. Lakissian consistently encourages Hamazkayin’s cultural activities and proves by his deeds his strong belief that the Cathedral ought to be a lively center for the community at large.

It was extraordinarily rewarding to see how Dr. Movsisyan’s books were flying off the table. The titles offered: “*The Sacred Highlands: Armenia in the Spiritual Geography of the Ancient Near East,” “The Writing Culture
of Pre-Christian Armenia”* and *”10 Outstanding Armenian Kings”* were no “light fare,” yet most of the books were purchased within minutes. The attendees surrounded the lecturer, asking additional questions, and patiently waiting to get their books inscribed. It was encouraging to hear that most of them were looking forward to future programs offered by Hamazkayin of New York.

Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, and a member of the Prelacy’s Religious Council, represented Archbishop Oshagan at the Recognition, Investiture, and Installation of The Right Reverend Andrew M. L. Dietsche as the 16th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York last Saturday, at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan. V. Rev. Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian, Dean of St. Vartan Cathedral, represented Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese.

Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian was in California for the annual clergy gathering and conference on the occasion of the Feast of St. Ghevont and the Priests that began Monday, January 28 and concluded on Wednesday, January 30.
This year the three North American Prelacies joined to commemorate this holiday, hosted by the Western Prelacy. The conference took place at St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church in San Francisco, under the presidency of the three prelates, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian (Western), Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan (Eastern), and Archbishop Khajag Hagopian (Canadian). Elected to serve as the executives of the conference were V. Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian and V. Rev. Fr. Meghrig Parikian, co-chairmen; and Archpriest Fr. Viken Vasilian and Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, secretaries.

Clergy visited Krouzian-Zakarian-Vasbouragan Armenian School where the students presented Vartanantz program. They also visited the Cross on the Mount Davidson. The Cross has been purchased by the council of Armenian American organizations of Northern California and the bronze plaque has been installed at the base memorializing the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Conference concluded by the Divine Liturgy.

On Sunday, January 27, 2013, at 1:00 p.m., at the Pashalian Hall of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral the New York chapter of Hamazkayin Educational and Cultural Society organized the screening of the documentary film “Enemy of the People: Armenians Look Back at the Stalin Terror” directed and produced by Zareh Tjeknavorian.

Dr. Ara Caprielian, chairman of Hamazkayin of New York, began the program with his welcoming remarks, during which he expressed his gratitude to Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian for making the Pashalian Hall available gratis for such cultural events. Then, he introduced Zareh Tjeknavorian to the audience. Tjeknavorian was born in Fargo, ND, but grew up in a cosmopolitan international environment due to his father, composer and conductor Loris Tjeknavorian’s tours in various countries. Zareh lived in San Francisco, Iran, London, Germany, Paris, New York City, and Armenia. He graduated from Tisch School of the Arts, New York University in 1992, with a bachelor’s degree in film and television production.

“Enemy of the People,” narrated by Eric Bogosian, is Tjeknavorian’s most widely-known documentary film, which depicts Stalinist oppression in Armenia. In fact, National Geographic Magazine recommended it as one of three must-see films about Armenia, along with “The Color of Pomegranates” by Sergei Parajanov and “Ararat” by Atom Egoyan.

At the conclusion of the program, Dr. Ara Caprielian invited Fr. Mesrob Lakissian to the podium to make the closing remarks. Fr. Mesrob expressed his pleasure at seeing such a poignant film, congratulated Zareh Tjeknavorian on his accomplishment, and presented him with a beautifully crafted miniature replica of the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Monument erected in Antelias. He also praised Dr. Caprielian and the rest of the Hamazkayin board members for organizing this significant function. And, in response to Dr. Caprielian’s expression of gratitude for making the Pashalian Hall available gratis for such events, Fr. Mesrob said, *“We renovated the Pashalian Hall for that very same purpose. Anytime you organize a cultural event, the hall is yours. This is also your cultural
home.”

On Thursday, January 24, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian accompanied by Dr. Arthur Martirosyan paid a visit to the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations, and met with Permanent Representative, H. E. Mr. Garen Nazarian.

The all new academic program for the Saturday school of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York, began last Saturday to a rousing welcome by students and parents. The school, which meets every Saturday from 9:45 am to 1 pm, will continue through May 18. Classes are held at the Armenian Center in Woodside, New York.

Armenian music, laughter, and balloons filled the halls and classrooms of the school as the organizing committee registered students and showed them the renovated classrooms. Parents and children filled the school’s main hall, to hear Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral and acting principal of the school, offer an opening prayer and words of welcome.

Following a reception for students and parents, the children were introduced to the teachers and then participated in special opening day activities that had been planned by the organizing committee.

The classrooms and hallways of the school were refurbished and the committee’s goal is to provide the students with a safe and happy place to learn and grow with their Armenian friends. Part of the opening day activities included the students leaving their handprints on the wall near the entrance. The children were given a choice of paint color in which they dipped their hands and with great joy left their imprint on the wall.

Students enjoyed first day activities in their classrooms and then the older students invited the younger students to watch their presentation of a short skit in Armenian about a little turtle that helps his friends when they need help.
Der Mesrob expressed thanks to the organizing committee and the parents for an inspiring opening day and the beginning of a successful academic year.

Registration is still open. Forms can be obtained at satarmenianschool@gmail.com or at www.stilluminators.org. Copies are also available at the Cathedral office.

Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian and Deacon Shant Kazanjian visited the residents of the New York Armenian Home, in Flushing, New York on January 10. After a beautiful Armenian Christmas service, Der Hayr and Dn. Shant sang some songs for the residents. Der Hayr presented each of the residents with beautiful scarves from Armenia. The residents were very glad to be remembered and gratefully accepted the gifts.

Two thousand dollars was raised by five Armenian youth organizations during their 8th annual Thanksgiving party for the Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief. A check was presented to Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral and a member of the Prelacy’s Religious Council, who accepted the check and expressed gratitude on behalf of Archbishop Oshagan.

The five organizations are: AGBU Young Professionals of Greater New York; Armenian Network, Greater New York Region; New York Armenian Students Association; AYF-YOARF New Jersey Arsen Chapter; and AYF-YOARF, New York Hyortik Chapter.

The consecration of the new painting and new front doors for the St. Illuminator’s Cathedral by Archbishop Oshagan took place on Sunday, January 6, following Christmas services.

The impressive new doors were sponsored by Mr. Ardashes Bedrosian. The Cathedral has undergone a major renovation and transformation during the past few years. The new doors and the new painting are the most recent projects to be completed.