On the weekend of October 25-26, Holy Archangels Church, St. Michael and St. Gabriel, of Haverhill, MA, was filled with prayers and gratitude as its faithful marked the first anniversary of the sanctuary’s consecration.
Pastor Fr. Vart Gyozalyan and parishioners welcomed Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan to preside over the celebration. The worship services included the ordinations of deacons Daniel Berberian and Hovsep Chavushyan, sub-deacon Haik Chavushyan, and acolytes Alexander Manich, Rafael Khachatryan, and Nikolas Manich.
“Through the ministry of these altar servers, may the light of Christ shine ever more brightly in your parish, and in the hearts of all who come to pray within these walls,” Bishop Mesrop said.
The Primate also honored five devoted parishioners by presenting them with the Diocese’s “St. Vartan Award”: Dn. Herman Gennetian, Barbara Sarkisian-Arthur, Sam Hagopian, Virginia Tavitian, and Katherine Meranian.
In addition, the church’s 16 godfathers were presented with icons of their patron saints, hand-painted in Armenia.
In the course of the weekend’s festivities, inspiring performances were offered by the Junior Choir of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence, RI, led by Maestro Konstantin Petrossian, and by the Nazeli Dance Group, led by Narine Lemme and Lusine Corsini.
“We extend our deepest appreciation to the leaders and members of the First Anniversary Committee for their incredible dedication and organization; and special thanks to our donors and supporters who made this weekend possible,” said Fr. Gyozalyan. “This anniversary was not only a celebration of our sanctuary, but a reflection of faith, love, and unity: the living spirit of our Holy Archangels family.”
Click the following link to view photos, and find further details of Holy Archangels’ anniversary on the parish Facebook page.