On Friday, November 14, numerous public attended the cultural event was held at Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey) as part of the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. The keynote speakers were Very Rev. Fr. Hrant Tahanian, Pastor of St. Stephen’s Church (Watertown, Ma), who spoke about His Holiness’ service to the ecumenical and inter-religious fields, and Very Rev. Fr. Boghos Tinkjian, Pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church (Philadelphia, Pa.) and chairman of the Religious Council, who focused on the contribution of His Holiness to Armenian life. A short video was shown about the 30th anniversary of His Holiness’ enthronement.
The Arekag chorus and the dance group of the local chapter of Hamazkayin, Melisa Gohar Atoyan (violin), accompanied by Margarita Fermadjian (piano), and Ara Dinkjian (oud) participated in the program
His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, underscored that His Holiness was the pilot who guided the ship of the Holy See of Cilicia through stormy waters to a safe haven.
His Holiness delivered his message in Armenian and English. He said in particular:
“Any celebration is essentially thanksgiving to God who is the Creator of our life, its sustainer and guider. It is also a call for critical self-assessment as well as a comprehensive evaluation of one’s public responsibility.
I can condense my 30 years of pontifical ministry in one word: SERVICE, service to God, to our church and people. I leave to our people and history to judge my pontificate. But I can affirm with joy that I did try to open a new page in the history of our Catholicosate, a page marked by so many achievements in the multiple spheres of our common life.
The Catholicos is not an individual person; he is identified with the Catholicosate, and by Catholicosate I mean clergy, our committees, prelacies, what we did was a collective achievements. And it is a fact that our Catholicosate has a central place particularly in Diaspora with its multi-dimensional role. We are committed to continue our mission with renewed efforts and dedication.”
The event came to a close with the song “Giligia.”
