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]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
September 27, 2004
The Life and Work of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian
Will be Memorialized on Friday, October 15
NEW YORK, NY – In just two months the first anniversary of the
passing of His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian will be marked with
appropriate requiem services in all Prelacy churches. Here in New York,
where he served as the leader of the Eastern Prelacy for twenty years,
his life and work will be remembered in a Memorial Tribute on Friday
evening, October 15. The commemorative program will take place at
St. Peter’s Church, 619 Lexington Avenue (at 54th Street), at 7:30 p.m.
Organized by the Hamazkayin of New York, the tribute is under the
auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of
the Eastern Prelacy. The gathering will hear addresses by Dr. Ashot
Melkonian, Director of the Institute of History of the Academy of
Sciences in Armenia, and the Honorable Judge Sarkis Teshoian, who
served as chairman of the Prelacy’s Executive Council during the
Archbishop’s tenure in New York.
The cultural portion of the evening will feature the well-known singer
Hasmik Mekhanedjian and Janet Marcarian on the organ. The opening
words of welcome will be delivered by Mrs. Arevig Caprielian and
Dr. Herand Markarian will serve as the evening’s master of ceremonies.
Perhaps the most poignant portion of the program will be a video
presentation of the “Life and Work of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian.” The
video presentation was prepared with the use of archival still
photographs and videos. It is narrated in the Archbishop’s own words,
in his own voice.
The late Archbishop, who died unexpectedly on December 2, 2003, during
a visit to the New York area, served the Armenian Church for decades
with passion and fervor. His service in the United States was preceded
by his service as Prelate of New Julfa/Isfahan in Iran. He assumed
the office of Prelate in the United States in January 1978 and for
twenty years he served the community in the United States and Canada,
with great distinction. His tenure was marked with a period of great
growth for the Eastern Prelacy, both in scope and numbers.
As Executive Director of the 1700th commemorative events of Christian
Armenia, he once again manifested his great talent and vision for
events that brought the faithful together and offered educational
benefits not only for Armenians, but also for everyone. He continued to
serve in Armenia after the death of Catholicos Karekin I. He worked
tirelessly to spread Christianity throughout Armenia, supported
countless ways to help the struggling population, and helped publish
dozens of books.
Archbishop Mesrob often spoke and wrote about the importance of
respecting the dead. In one essay he wrote, “Throughout history, it
has been observed that only the great nations of the world have known
how to respect their dead. In contrast, those nations who have severed
ties with their ancestors, have been doomed to extinction.” He often
quoted the late Catholicos Zareh I, who used to enjoy repeating the
words of a famous historian who upon analyzing the reasons for the fall
of Rome said, “Rome fell because Romans lost respect for their dead.”
Archbishop Mesrob will be remembered for time immemorial because of
his extraordinary life and work. New York’s Hamazkayin is honored to
present this memorial tribute in remembrance of a great humanitarian
and clergyman whose greatest joy was working for the benefit and
strength of the Armenian church and nation.
Archbishop Oshagan, a fellow member of the Cilician Brotherhood and
lifelong friend of the late Archbishop, will deliver the evening’s
concluding words and benediction.
Admission is free. Further information is available at 718-459-2757.