New York’s St. Vartan Cathedral marked its name day on the evening of Thursday, February 12, with a service and program co-sponsored by the Knights and Daughters of Vartan.
The Sts. Vartanants Day gathering began in the cathedral sanctuary, with the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Fr. Martiros Hakobyan, pastor of St. Kevork Church of Houston, TX.
The faithful then assembled in Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium for a dinner and program, where Paul Chamesian served as Master of Ceremonies.
In a keynote address on the religious conflict that gripped the Armenian nation in A.D. 451, Dr. Julia Hintlian of Harvard University described the ancient religions of Persia, and contrasted these to the Christian faith of the Armenian people.
She reflected on the choice that confronted the Armenians of St. Vartan’s day: between the distant, uninvolved deity of the Persian empire, and the incarnate, ever-present Christian God. In remaining faithful to Christ, Dr. Hintlian said, Armenians embraced a God who draws near, who shares in the human struggle, and who lovingly cares for His people.
Pianist Diana Gabrielyan performed works by Arno Babajanian and Aram Khachaturian for the musical part of the program. Diocesan Vicar Fr. Simeon Odabashian offered a benediction to conclude the evening.
Click here to view photos by Harout Barsoumian.