Vahan Hovennesian Laid to Rest – Videos

Vahan Hovennesian Laid to Rest – Videos

Saturday, January 3rd, 2015
by Ara Khachatourian

Vahan Hovannesian’s coffin being carried into the Komitas Chamber
Orchestra hall, where funeral services were held

YEREVAN-In the presence of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Bureau, ARF members from Armenia and around the world, as well as
government officials, including President Serzh Sarkisian and Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian, long-time ARF leader and Armenia’s
Ambassador to Germany Vahan Hovannesian, who passed away on Decemeber
28 was laid to rest at the Yerevan Pantheon on Saturday,

The burial was preceded by a funeral service at the Komitas Chamber
Orchestra hall in Yerevan, where joining Sarkisian and Nalbandian were
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan and the Speaker of the National
Assembly Galust Sahakyan. A vast number of political officials,
writers, intellectuals, members of the press joined Hovannesian’s
family in bidding farewell to the political leader and activist.

A requiem service was held Friday evening at the St. Sarkis Church in
the Nor Nork neighborhood of Yerevan.

Hovannesian’s fellow ARF members stood guard around his coffin as
funeral attendees paid their final respects, while members of the ARF
Nigol Aghbalian Student Organization surround the area holding the
Armenian tricolor and the ARF flags.

On behalf of Armneia’s government, Foreign Ministry Nalbandian spoke
about Hovannesian’s years of service as a parliament member and
praised his diplomatic abilities as Armenia’s Ambassador to Germany.
The ARF Bureau chairman Hrant Markarian said a heartfelt personal
message, during which he praised Hovannesian’s unwavering commitment
to the Armenian Cause and pledged that the party will continue the
work, which defined Hovannesian’s career and activism.

ARF Bureau Chairman Hrant Markarian addresses the funeral, as ARF
members stand guard around the late leader’s coffin

“Although I am going to speak about you in the past tense, but my dear
unger, you have not gone. You’re still here,” said ARF Bureau chairman
Markarian, “You have given so much to so many people, that there is a
little bit of Vahan in everyone, whether or not they knew you.”

ARF members from Europe, the US and Lebanon also attended the funeral,
among them ARF Western US Central Committee chairman Dr. Viken
Hovsepian.

Hovsepain told Yerkir Media that Hovannessian will be missed for a
long time to come, adding that he spoke to the late leader 10 days
before his passing and that while he was already ailing, “until the
end Vahan stayed Vahan,” indicating that the late leader was the same
man of conviction that guided his life.

At the Yerevan Pantheon, Hovannesian was interred next to his beloved
father, ARF Bureau member and activist Edward Hovannesian.

In keeping with tradition, Hovannesian’s ARF comrades concluded the
ceremony by singing “Verkerov Li.”

From: A. Papazian

http://asbarez.com/130410/vahan-hovennesian-laid-to-rest/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAic-9q_F18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XkZSzKwHVA#t=114
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxSOcLXvtZ0