On Sunday, October 25, St. Peter Church in Watervliet, NY, turned its familiar hilltop setting into the centerpiece of a special fundraising event benefiting the ongoing renovation of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral.
Called “Climb the Hye Hill,” the event brought together nearly 60 parishioners and friends for an afternoon of exercise, fellowship, and support for the Cathedral Renovation Project. Organized by the St. Peter Women’s Guild, the gathering raised $3,500 toward the renovation effort.
St. Peter Church occupies a distinctive location atop a hill overlooking the surrounding communities. For generations, parishioners have made the climb to attend Sunday services. On this occasion, that familiar journey became a symbolic expression of the parish’s commitment to supporting the cathedral and the wider Diocesan family.
Participants began their route in front of the church, proceeding downhill and around the building before making the final climb back to the summit. The event’s organizers drew a parallel between the physical challenge of climbing the hill and the challenges encountered in daily life and in the journey of faith.
The afternoon continued beneath the parish pavilion, where participants enjoyed waffles, refreshments, and fellowship. Games of tavloo, Armenian dancing, and gift bags for participants added to the festive atmosphere.
The event was a collaborative effort involving the Women’s Guild, Sunday School, Armenian School, Knights of Vartan, and Ararat Dance Group. Parish pastor Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, together with the church’s deacons and sub-deacons, offered spiritual leadership at the start of the gathering.
The fundraiser was inspired by the parish’s longstanding connection to St. Vartan Cathedral, which has served as the spiritual center of the Eastern Diocese since its consecration in 1968. The cathedral’s ongoing renovation will preserve and strengthen that historic landmark for future generations.
Organizers expressed the hope that their initiative would encourage other Diocesan parishes to undertake similar fundraising activities in support of the Cathedral project.
For the St. Peter Women’s Guild, the afternoon also offered a fitting expression of its longstanding motto: “Hands for God, Hearts for Others.”