It began with the generation that survived the Armenian Genocide and found refuge in America. They built our Cathedral out of gratitude to our Lord Jesus Christ, for the blessings He gave them. In the early 1950s, faithful of all ages gave their support to the project—often collecting nickels and dimes in a “Cathedral Fundraising Box” that could be seen in every Armenian home.
Created by Laurie Onanian, the Director of Development here in the Eastern Diocese, this year’s Lenten Drive borrows on that wonderful tradition to involve children from across our Diocese in supporting the St. Vartan Cathedral Restoration Project. The help they give today will ensure that the Cathedral will be strong and sturdy when they inherit it tomorrow.
Last year, our Diocese began a multi-year effort to restore and renovate our beloved St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York City. The exterior phase of the project is almost completed, with the interior phase slated to begin later this year. The goal is to complete the restoration by April of 2028, when the cathedral will mark its 60th anniversary.
The story of our Diocesan Cathedral—its origins, its construction, and its ongoing presence—is an uplifting example of faith, hope, and determination: The fulfillment of a dream to build a beautiful “national home” uniting all our parishes and faithful in this great country.
Every Diocesan parish will soon receive a quantity of specially designed boxes to share with students in the Diocese’s local church schools. It is recommended that teachers present the boxes to the children on Sunday, March 2nd—“Poon Paregentan”—and that they take up collections in support of their Cathedral through the six weeks of Great Lent that follow. They should return the boxes to their Sunday School teachers on Easter Sunday, April 20.
This Lenten Drive will also be an excellent opportunity to educate students about St. Vartan Cathedral and its role in the history of the Armenian Church. We will provide you with links to short videos on the Cathedral project, that can be shown in your school assemblies.
At the end of the Lenten Drive, schools should collect the full boxes, and parish treasurers can mail a check in the collected amount to the Diocesan Center in New York, along with a list of the children who supported the project.
The Diocese would like to express nothing but the deepest gratitude for the support of our schools, and especially that of our children across the Eastern Diocese. May this project be part of an enriching and inspiring Lenten season for all.
To learn more about the history of St Vartan Cathedral and its renewal process, click here.