MILESTONES

FR. KABARADJIAN Remembered

On Saturday, May 8 Archbishop Khajag Barsamian delivered the eulogy during the funeral of Very Rev. Fr. Varoujan Kabaradjian, the long-time pastor at the St. James Church of Evanston, Ill., who passed away on April 30 after a prolonged illness.

During the service the Primate also performed the last anointing on Fr. Kabaradjian, who was born in a suburb of Istanbul and came to Evanston after studying in the seminary of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Dozens of clergymen and parishioners from the Chicagoland area attended funeral services, which were sung by a choir of singers from local parishes and led by Maestro Khoren Mekanejian, coordinator of music ministry for the Diocese. His Eminence Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian, former Pontifical Legate and Primate of the Armenian Church of Great Britain, celebrated the Divine Liturgy and presided over the wake service the night before.

“It was about a year ago when we celebrated Fr. Varoujan’s long and illustrious ministry in the vineyard of our Lord,” the Primate said. “At that time we did not expect that he would leave us so soon. Fr. Varoujan, through his ministry, listened and followed the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ, ‘Go forth and make disciples of all nations.’”

Before coming to America in 1958, Fr. Kabaradjian held various positions at the St. James Monastery in Jerusalem. >From 1958 until his retirement in 2003, he served the Armenian community of Evanston. In addition to his duties as pastor of the St. James Parish, he served as a visiting pastor to a number of churches in the Chicago and Southern Wisconsin areas.

“Over the past five decades, countless individuals have been touched by his wisdom and kindness,” the Primate said during his eulogy. “And these people will always reserve a special place in their heart for their beloved teacher, pastor, and friend. His pastoral care invigorated the life of our Diocese and his example inspired others—both clergy and laymen—to answer the call of discipleship.”

On January 1, 1998, the Evanston Police Department assigned Fr. Kabaradjian as one of its four police chaplains. On March 26, 2001, the mayor and police chief of Evanston honored Fr. Varoujan in the Evanston City Hall for services rendered to the city. The city of Evanston first honored him on July 26, 1983. From 1973 to 1977, he was the only Armenian clergyman in Illinois.

“Fr. Varoujan was equally admired and respected by the authorities and fellow citizens of Evanston, whom he served in so many capacities,” the Primate said. “The awards and honors bestowed on Fr. Varoujan by the city of Evanston are a credit to the esteem they held for him.

“Fr. Varoujan took the gifts he was given by the Almighty and returned them to his church, his people, his community, and, ultimately, to God,” the Primate added.

PHILADELPHIA SON ORDAINED AT HOLY ETCHMIADZIN

Two deacons, including one raised in California, were ordained as priests at Holy Etchmiadzin during the Feast of Vartanantz Feb.19, by His Grace Bishop Vasken Mirzakhanian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Georgia. Dn. Armen Devejian was named Fr. Ktrij and Dn. Vartan Movsissian was named Fr. Shahan. Fr. Ktrij Devejian, born in Philadelphia in 1969, is the first American-born priest to be ordained at the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. Since 2001, Fr. Ktrij and his wife Paula have been living in Armenia, where he has served as foreign press secretary for the Mother See. Both new priests will continue their ministry at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

BERJ ZAMKOCHIAN, ACCLAIMED ORGANIST, PASSES AWAY

Berj Zamkochian, 74, an Armenian organ virtuoso who performed for presidents and popes, and who was a good friend of the Eastern Diocese, died of cancer Feb. 23 in Caritas Norwood Hospital, Norwood, Mass. He founded the Gomidas Organ Fund, which raised money to purchase 13 organs for Armenian churches worldwide. His last performance at the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) in November was at a concert celebrating the 35th anniversary of the consecration of New York City's St. Vartan Cathedral.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC HIGHLIGHTS REBIRTH OF ARMENIA

The March issue of National Geographic magazine featured a story detailing the rebirth of the Christian faith in the Republic of Armenia. The feature and captivating photos, including a picture of the Shushi Dance Group, tell the story of the Armenian people and their past and present struggles. For more information, visit the National Geographic website: http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0403/feature2/index.html.

CLEVELAND PARISH CELEBRATES 40 YEARS

During the Primate's visit Sunday, April 17 and 18, the St. Gregory of Narek Church in Cleveland, Ohio marked the 40th anniversary of the church's consecration. The original dream of the parish extends back another 40 years, when the grandparents of today's leaders—who were then fresh immigrants in America—went door to door selling hard-boiled eggs on Easter to raise money for the church.

PRIMATE ORDAINS ACOLYTES, SUB-DEACON, DEACON IN WORCESTER

On May 15, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian ordained 13 young acolytes, young people in the Church of Our Saviour in Worcester, Mass., who stepped up to answer Fr. Terzian's call for service. They were: Michael Arakelian, Adam Bullock, Brody Gardner, Armen Hagopian, Michael Migridichian, Michael Hadchickian, Robert Sivazlian, Hovhannes Balian, Zaven Donoian, Brendon Haddon, Michael Kaishian, A.J. Pottle, and Seth Yaylaian. (Another future acolyte, Nikolas Ovesian, broke his leg earlier that day and was unable to take part in the ordination.)

In a separate service on Sunday, May 16, the Primate ordained Henry Hagopian as a sub-deacon, and Vasken Chagaian as a deacon