The Eastern Diocese is deeply grieved by the passing of Nazar Nazarian, the gracious and visionary benefactor of the Armenian Church, nation, and numerous institutions, who passed away on August 28, 2023, just weeks after his 98th birthday.
Nazar Nazarian was a remarkable, unforgettable figure in our community life, who was beloved throughout the Armenian world, at every level of our community. He enjoyed a beautiful, tender marriage with his beloved wife, Artemis, who predeceased Nazar in 2020. Together, Nazar and Artemis shared a life of consequence, influence, and productive activity that was at once patriotic and deeply faithful. Side by side, the Nazarians built up our church, community, and homeland through their generosity and optimistic vision.
Mr. Nazarian started life as the youngest of four children born to Levon and Satenig Nazarian in Aleppo, Syria. Relocating to Lebanon with his family, he graduated from the American University of Beirut with a pharmacy degree, but joined the family textile business, and began his own enterprise, Royale Linens, when he settled in the United States in 1951. Nazar was a legendary businessman, who expanded the business in many directions, and met with great success, leading his firm until his retirement in 2006.
This was the stage on which Nazar and Artemis launched a lifetime of good works. They took on projects and supported worthy causes throughout the United States—and across the world—to advance the cause of the Armenian people. In doing so, Nazar and Artemis exemplified to the highest degree the Armenian Christian virtues of charity, loyalty, and faithful leadership.
In our Diocese, they were long-time members of St. Thomas Armenian Church of Tenafly, NJ, where Nazar served on the parish council, as a Diocesan delegate, and on the Board of Trustees. Later in life, the Nazarians joined St. Leon Armenian Church in Fair Lawn, NJ. Nazar also served on the St. Nersess Seminary Board of Directors.
When St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral was consecrated in New York City in 1968, Nazar was one of its 35 original godfathers, and at the time of his passing was the sole surviving member of that distinguished group. Over the ensuing half-century and more, Nazar and Artemis, and the entire family, would take every opportunity to support the cathedral, and help realize its original vision as the “national home” of all Armenians in America.
The Nazarians were also heroic supporters of the AGBU, where Nazar served on the Board of Directors as Vice President and Treasurer. Their generosity resulted in numerous “Nazarian Halls” gracing the AGBU facilities around the globe; the Levon and Satenig Nazarian AGBU Day School in Beirut, Lebanon (constructed by Nazar and his brothers to honor their parents); and AGBU’s Nubar Nazarian building, housing the Armenian Embassy in Beirut.
Nazar and Artemis Nazarian also aided countless students throughout the United States and in Armenian communities throughout the world, in their determined effort to advance the global Armenian community.
It was in our homeland that the Nazarians undertook some of their most consequential and far-reaching projects, including the construction of churches, schools, medical centers, a new AGBU building in Yerevan, as well as building and restoration projects at Holy Etchmiadzin. In anticipation of the 1700th anniversary of Armenia’s conversion to Christianity, they sponsored the construction of the “Drtad Madour” as part of the mammoth St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Yerevan. The beautiful structure will stand forever as the most visible part of the Nazarians’ innumerable benefactions to the Armenian Church in its native land.
For their lifelong efforts, the Nazarians were awarded with the highest honors from Catholicos Vasken I, Catholicos Karekin I, Catholicos Karekin II, Catholicos Aram I, two Armenian Presidents, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor committee, among many others. A special honor came ten years ago, when His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, presented Nazar with the “Knight of Holy Etchmiadzin” Pontifical Medal—a distinction bestowed on only a very few individuals in the entire world.
But perhaps the greatest honor for Nazar and Artemis was to witness their family legacy of supporting the Armenian Christian heritage being actively taken up by their daughter Seta, their son Dr. Levon Nazarian and his wife Claudia, and by their five grandchildren, William, Nicholas, Matthew, Daniela, and Gregory. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time.
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Funeral arrangements for Nazar Nazarian will be as follows. Visitation hours will take place on Friday, September 1, from 5 to 9 p.m. (with the wake service at 7:30 p.m.), at St. Leon Armenian Church (12-61 Saddle River Rd., Fair Lawn, NJ).
The funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 2, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral (630 Second Ave., New York, NY). Diocesan Primate Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan will preside and deliver a eulogy. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations in Nazar’s memory to be distributed to the AGBU and the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. Memorial donations may be made securely online, on the AGBU’s website.
Additionally, the Nazarian family has created a touching memorial website with memories of Nazar Nazarian, messages from those whose lives he touched, and other information. Please take a moment to read about his remarkable life on this site, titled “Remembering Nazar.”
In the meantime, we bless his memory, and convey our deepest sympathies to his loved ones, especially Nazar’s exemplary children, Seta, Levon and Claudia, and their families. May our risen Lord shine the light of His grace on His true servant, Nazar Nazarian, and remember him in His heavenly kingdom.
Prayerfully,
Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan
Primate
Above: The late Artemis (1932-2020) and Nazar Nazarian (1925-2023). (Photo by Tina Tcholakian, from 2013.)
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