100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS VASKEN I
armradio.am
20.09.2008 12:36
On Saturday, September 20, under the presidency of His Holiness
Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, a
special Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Mother Cathedral of Holy
Etchmiadzin on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of
Armenian Pontiff Vasken I of blessed memory.
Following the Divine Liturgy, a special Repose of Souls service was
offered in the courtyard of the Mother See, in front of the tomb of
His Holiness Vasken I.
His Holiness Vasken I (Baljian) was born in Bucharest, Romania
on September 20, 1908. He was baptized and given the name Levon
Garabed. He began his adult life as a philosopher, then became an
instructor in local Armenian schools, and later became a Doctor
of Theology and was ordained as a celibate priest in the Armenian
Church. He quickly became bishop of the Armenian diocese of Romania
and led the Armenian community in Eastern Europe for a decade.
In 1955, Bishop Vasken Baljian was elected as Catholicos of
All Armenians in Holy Etchmiadzin by the National Ecclesiastical
Assembly. He was one of the youngest members of the church hierarchy
to ascend to the Throne of the Illuminator.
During his nearly 40-year reign as the Armenian Pontiff, he lived
through many historic events and developments of Armenian life. He
led the Church thr ough the difficult years of the Cold War between
the West and the Soviet Union, through Détente, through the easing
of tensions and restrictions in the U.S.S.R., through the terrible
earthquake that devastated Northern Armenia in 1988, through the
liberation struggle for the Armenians of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabagh)
and the independence movement for Armenia, and through the difficult
war years between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Finally, at the very end
of his life, Vasken I saw a free and independent Armenian homeland
and a liberated Artsakh, fulfilling the dreams of all Armenians for
more than 600 years.
He was a prolific writer, having published numerous scholarly and
ecclesiastical articles, and valued Christian education as one of the
most important tasks of the Church. Following independence, he began
a substantial church re-building program and saved numerous historic
ancient churches and monasteries. He also was successful in saving
countless church treasures and managed to gather priceless relics
and manuscripts in Holy Etchmiadzin for safekeeping. He traveled
extensively, conducting more than 30 pontifical visits during his
39-year reign. He became the first Catholicos of All Armenians to
ever visit North and South America.
Vasken I also intensified ecumenical ties and emphasized the
development and maintenance of positive inter-Church and inter-faith
relations. He visited the heads of many sister Churches and leaders
of other faiths, a nd in turn, received them in the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin.
Vasken I entered his eternal rest on August 18, 1994, having served
the Armenian Church and nation with unyielding devotion and unfailing
love throughout his entire life of service.
–Boundary_(ID_r3dIvhYXDpevniO7YPnJdA)–