New York’s St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral reached an exciting milestone on Sunday, June 30, 2024, when a magnificent new cross was blessed and raised to the summit of the cathedral dome.
The cathedral has been undergoing a major renovation throughout 2024, to repair and restore the structure of the cathedral. Top architects and artisans are undertaking the project.
The June 30 ceremony led by Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, fulfilled an important goal of the renovation plan. The new cross—designed in a beautiful, stately Armenian fashion—will grace St. Vartan Cathedral for the next era of its existence.
In his sermon during the Divine Liturgy preceding the blessing ceremony on the cathedral’s outdoor plaza, Bishop Parsamyan noted that, “This is the third cross to stand over this sanctuary. The first was installed when the cathedral was built in 1968. The second replaced it in 1993 to mark the cathedral’s 25th anniversary. And now, this third cross will stand above us, God willing, for the next generation and beyond.”
A Moment in History
The crowd of worshippers taking part in the liturgy and the blessing included members of the cathedral building and fundraising committees, project benefactors, and a large contingent of participants in St. Nersess Seminary’s annual Deacon’s Training Program.
Bishop Parsamyan welcomed the crowd of worshippers, observing that, “Once the scaffolding around the dome comes down, the cross will only be seen from afar. So you are among the few people in the world who will be able to say: ‘I touched the cross on St. Vartan Cathedral.’ What a unique blessing that is! You are here to witness and take part in a moment of history.”
Following the service in the sanctuary, worshippers followed the procession of clergy and deacons onto the cathedral plaza, where the cross was standing on a specially-prepared platform—imposing at a height of some 15 feet, and towering above the human figures circled around it.
In the course of the blessing ceremony, six members of the Diocesan cathedral fundraising and building committees washed the surface of the cross with wine, as Bishop Mesrop recited and chanted the prayers of blessing. The distinguished committee members present included Karl Anoushian, Haig Buchakjian, Melanie Dadourian, Nicholas Nazarian, Laurie Onanian, and Oscar Tatosian.
(Other members of the building committee include Tom Ashbahian, Andy Duquesian, Richard Papalian, and Alex Topakbashian.)
As the formal service concluded, people came forward to touch the cross, wearing expressions that attested to the solemnity of the occasion. A reception in Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium brought the unique day to a close.
In accordance with city construction ordinances, physically raising the cross to the top of the cathedral had to wait until Sunday’s late evening hours. But a small crowd was on hand from around 10 p.m., to witness the actual transport and installation. Two lanes of traffic on Second Avenue were closed down to accommodate the mammoth crane that hoisted the new cross up above the cathedral, and gingerly lowered it to the dome, where a team of workmen worked efficiently to position and bolt down the cross onto to an armature, before welding it into place.
The entire process was a unique spectacle for apartment dwellers in Manhattan’s Kip’s Bay neighborhood, who looked out their windows to see an Armenian cross gracefully suspended high above street level.
A Legacy and Call to Action
In the days following the installation, the cross of St. Vartan Cathedral has remained hidden behind a web of scaffolding and netting, as artisans prepare the dome and cross for the application of gold leaf.
But soon, the gilded cross will be revealed, shining proudly above New York’s great Armenian cathedral, testifying to the undying Christian faith of the Armenian people, and asserting their continuing vital presence in America.
It was this spirit that Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop invoked in his June 30 sermon. “As we raise a new cross over the great symbol of this Diocese—our beloved cathedral—let’s honor those faithful souls who paved the way for us,” he said. “Think about the hands that built this cathedral; the hearts that prayed here; the lives that were touched by its presence. Friends, we are here today because of their faith and dedication. This new cross is a testament to their legacy and a call to action. It’s a reminder that we are called to build a future together, to build upon their foundation, rooted in our faith and our love for one another.”
Learn about the St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral restoration—and contribute to the ongoing project—by visiting the website StVartan.org.
Click here to view photos by Harout Barsoumian.