On July 20, at the invitation of the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Pontifical Legate for Western Europe and Representative of the Catholicos of All Armenians to the Vatican, took part in commemorative events dedicated to the memory of Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian. This year’s observances also coincided with the 70th anniversary of the Foundation’s establishment.
During the day, members of the Foundation’s Board and staff, accompanied by His Eminence, paid tribute before the bust of Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian. They then attended a Holy Mass celebrated in the nearby Catholic church in his memory.
At the conclusion of the Mass, Archbishop Khajag delivered a spiritual reflection on the prayerful legacy of Saint Gregory of Narek and on the life and service of Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian. Recalling Gregory of Narek’s profound words, “Before You I have laid the sighs of my heart as an offering,” he emphasized that “we come before God not only with our successes or our strength, but with the truth of our hearts — with gratitude and sorrow, hope and frailty — and when all these are offered to God, they become prayer.”
The Archbishop further noted that Saint Gregory of Narek teaches us that “true faith does not flee from suffering or human weakness, but brings them into the light of God.” In this spirit, he presented the memory of Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian as the witness of a life in which gifts and talents were transformed into service and benevolence.
Reflecting on the life of the great benefactor, Archbishop Barsamian stated: “He too was a son of the Armenian people, and the gifts entrusted to him — intellect, foresight, influence, and material means — he did not regard merely as personal privilege, but as instruments for serving a greater good.” He added that Calouste Gulbenkian understood that “talent brings responsibility, wealth calls for stewardship, and vision finds its truest nobility in service.”
The Archbishop also underscored the spiritual kinship between the witness of Saint Gregory of Narek and that of Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian, saying: “Gregory of Narek offered the sighs of his heart to God in prayer, while Gulbenkian offered the fruits of his life in service.” These two distinct yet harmonious witnesses, he observed, remind us that “life attains true greatness when it is not enclosed within what it possesses, but becomes an offering — to God and to others.”
The commemoration concluded with the traditional prayer of the Armenian Church, offered for the repose of Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian and all departed members of the Gulbenkian family.
Following the service, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian attended a luncheon hosted at the Foundation.
During his visit to the Gulbenkian Foundation, Archbishop Khajag also met with Dr. Razmik Panossian, Director of the Foundation’s Armenian Communities Department. In a warm and cordial atmosphere, they discussed the Foundation’s Armenian-focused mission, as well as its current and future initiatives.
Also on July 20, accompanied by Dr. Panossian, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian visited the newly renovated and reconfigured Gulbenkian Museum. The visit offered an opportunity to become more closely acquainted with the museum’s renewed presentation and its rich collection, widely regarded as an exceptional treasury of international cultural significance. The collection includes remarkable works from ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Islamic art, and various periods of European fine arts. In its breadth and refinement, it stands as a testament to Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian’s keen aesthetic sensibility and his profound devotion to the shared heritage of human civilization.
It is also worth noting that on Saturday, July 18, at the invitation of Dr. Razmik Panossian, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian attended the gala concert marking the 70th anniversary of the Foundation, held in the Foundation’s splendid concert hall.
This occasion of remembrance once again provided an opportunity to honor with gratitude the enduring legacy of Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian and the far-reaching mission that the Gulbenkian Foundation continues to pursue in the fields of culture, education, science, and humanitarian service.
Source։ Pontifical Legation Western Europe https://www.facebook.com/pontificallegation.westerneurope.9