PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
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Contact: Iris Papazian
April 30, 2004
THE PASSING OF ARCHBISHOP ZAREH AZNAVOURIAN
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, and His
Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate, the Religious and Executive
Councils of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America,
announce with deepest sadness the passing of His Eminence Archbishop Zareh
Aznavourian, on Friday, April 30, 2004, in Lebanon. His Eminence was 57
years old.
Archbishop Zareh faithfully served the Armenian Apostolic Church as an
ordained celibate priest for 38 years, most of which was spent at the
Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon, except for
two years in Rome where he pursued higher education and three years as the
Prelate of Cyprus.
Archbishop Zareh was an eminent teacher at the Cilician See’s
Theological Seminary. He was a noted composer of both religious and secular
music, a gifted scholar, a Biblical translator, and an author of textbooks
and commentaries. He was considered to be one of the most noted Biblical
scholars within the Armenian Church.
The Extreme Unction will take place during the Divine Liturgy service at
the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Antelias, on Monday, May 3.
Interment will follow in the Mausoleum of the Holy See of Cilicia.
Requiem Services will take place in all Prelacy churches on Sunday, May
2.