By Jeanette Der Hagopian
Holy Trinity Church of Cheltenham, Pa., marked the 80th anniversary of the parish’s establishment last Sunday, September 28. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), celebrated the Divine Liturgy and ordained two young men to the diaconate. Antranig Garibian and Krikor Andonian have been serving at Holy Trinity Church for years. Both grew up in the parish and are now raising their own families in the church community.
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Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710 or (973) 943-8697
E-mail: chrisz@armeniandiocese.org
Website: www.armenianchurch-ed.net
October 8, 2014
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CHELTENHAM PARISH MARKS 80 YEARS
By Jeanette Der Hagopian
Holy Trinity Church of Cheltenham, Pa., marked the 80th anniversary of the parish’s establishment last Sunday, September 28.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), celebrated the Divine Liturgy and ordained two young men to the diaconate.
Antranig Garibian and Krikor Andonian have been serving at Holy Trinity Church for years. Both grew up in the parish and are now raising their own families in the church community.
“It was a very emotional moment for me as I accepted the call to service in front of a community whom I love very dearly, and has given me so much more than I will ever be able to give back,” Krikor said.
Antranig, who also serves on the Diocesan Council, said “being ordained as a deacon meant that my community was giving me a sacred trust. I felt the souls of my grandparents and loved ones with me and guiding me. It is an honor—but more so, an enormous responsibility.”
Sunday’s diaconate ordination was the first one at the church in 25 years, and parishioners said they look forward to seeing other young men take up the vocation in the coming years.
Archbishop Barsamian was assisted on the altar by the parish’s young and energetic pastor, the Rev. Fr. Hakob Gevorgyan. Also participating in services was Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, the Diocese’s Ecumenical Director. Taking part in the subsequent activities was the Very Rev. Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian, pastor of St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church of Wynnewood, Pa.
Later that afternoon, some 400 parishioners and guests gathered for a festive banquet in the church hall. They reflected on the history of Holy Trinity Church, honored longtime parishioners, and commended the young generation of Armenians who are carrying forward the founders’ vision.
Archbishop Barsamian presented the “St. Nersess Shnorhali” medal to Dr. Garo Garibian for his years of service to the parish and the Diocese, as well as to the global Armenian Church, including Holy Etchmiadzin and the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
An encyclical from His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians, was read by Fr. Gevorgyan.
True to his humble spirit, Dr. Garibian said he was accepting the honor “on behalf of all those who have helped build and serve our church throughout the years, as well as the two newly ordained deacons.”
He went on to speak about the three defining periods in the life of the parish: the arrival of the young Very Rev. Fr. Torkom Manoogian in 1946; the leadership of the Very Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Melkonian in the 1980s and 90s; and the new chapter begun by the parish’s current pastor, the Rev. Fr. Hakob Gevorgyan.
Dr. Garibian also reflected on the life of St. Nersess Shnorhali, the 12th-century Armenian Catholicos who instituted major reforms in the Armenian Church, and encouraged parishioners to take inspiration from his life and work.
A second award—the “St. Sahag and St. Mesrob” medal—was presented to Nancy Basmajian. She currently serves as the director of Adult Christian Education at Holy Trinity Church. Prior to that, she served the Eastern Diocese for more than three decades in various capacities, including as co-director of the Department of Religious Education, program director of St. Vartan Camp, and executive secretary of the ACYOA Seniors.
The unexpected honor was bestowed at the initiative of the Primate, and took the honoree completely by surprise. “If I think of myself as a symbol of all the women of faith who came before me—teachers, choir members, the women who nurtured and fed our communities, literally and figuratively—then I feel truly blessed to be able to share it with them,” Nancy Basmajian said.
The program continued with the presentation of the Diocese’s “St. Vartan Award” to five parishioners who were involved in the church since its earliest years. Harry Andonian, Albert Kapeghian, Harry Mirijanian, Jack Vishab, and Berj Yeretzian have all served on the parish council, as well as a number of other church committees and organizations.
Archbishop Aykazian, who visited the parish in the years when Holy Trinity Church did not have a permanent pastor, spoke about the warm and hospitable spirit of the community. He said he felt at home among the Armenians of Cheltenham, and enjoys returning to the church on various occasions.
Another highlight of the celebration was the screening of a short video overview of the parish’s past and its vision for the future.
Holy Trinity Church was established in 1934, when the Armenian community of north Philadelphia first began to make plans for a permanent house of worship. The first church, located in Philadelphia, was consecrated in 1942.
Four years later, parishioners welcomed the Very Rev. Fr. Torkom Manoogian, a young priest who injected new vigor into the parish in the years following World War II. (Fr. Manoogian would go on to lead the Eastern Diocese as its primate, and later became the 96th Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem.)
In 1964, the church in Philadelphia was destroyed by fire. Services were held at the Odd Fellows Orphanage while the parish’s building committee drew up plans for a new house of worship. Land was purchased in the suburb of Cheltenham, and in September 1966, the present church building was consecrated by the parish’s former pastor, by that time Bishop Torkom Manoogian.
The community continued to grow in the ensuing years. Under the guidance of the late Very Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Melkonian, the ACYOA was re-energized and young people became increasingly involved in parish life.
Fr. Gevorgyan, who became the parish pastor in 2010, described Holy Trinity Church as a place where “our faithful find love, comfort, peace, joy, and hope.” He spoke about the perseverance of the church’s founders, and stressed that a new generation of Armenians must now “provide the oil—our time, our talent, and our treasure” to keep alive the flame lit 80 years ago.
“This was a day that will long be remembered in the life of our church,” said parish council vice chair Jeanette Der Hagopian. “Our parish is multi-generational and we are working together to grow in our faith and follow the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
The anniversary committee was comprised of Ara Shakarjian, Nancy Basmajian, Jeanette Der Hagopian, Barbara Harmon, Leslie Movsessian, Merle Santerian, Anne Terkanian, and Lisa Viarengo. The banquet was co-chaired by Pauline Chapjian and Margo Silk.
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Photos attached.
Photo 1: Antranig Garibian (left) and Krikor Andonian were ordained to the diaconate by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian.
Photo 2: Clergy and altar servers pose for a group photo following services.
Photo 3: The day’s honorees, from left, Albert Kapeghian, Harry Mirijanian, Fr. Hakob Gevorgyan, Nancy Basmajian, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Dr. Garo Garibian, and Berj Yeretzian.
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