paul chaderjian

Holy Armenian treasure in Saidabad was once abandoned by Paul Chaderjian Saidabad, India - The Service of Calling ceremony for Deacon Harutyun Hambardzumyan, who was ordained by Catholicos Karekin II as Father Avedis on Saturday, November 15, took place a day before at the Holy Virgin Mary Church in Saidabad. The Saidabad church sits on 12 acres of land in a remote suburb of the city of Hyderabad, where no Armenian lives. It was once abandoned and a former chairperson of the Armenian Community Council of India wanted to give it away until the Indian-Armenian community and the Armenian Church intervened. "The Saidabad church is hours and hours away from Kolkata," said pastor of the Armenian Church in India, Very Rev. Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian. "But after you come here, you receive a spiritual fulfillment." Fr. Gulgulian then quoted poet Vahan Tekeyan's, "the Armenian Church is the birthplace of my soul," to explain the spiritual renewal pilgrims ex...

Karekin II ordains local deacon into priesthood by Paul Chaderjian   Published: Wednesday November 19, 2008   Kolkata, India - Avedis - or good news - was the word resonating at the historic celebration of the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Armenian Holy Church of Nazareth in Kolkata on Saturday, November 15. Avedis - a word used in the Armenian Church to congratulate congregants on holidays like Christmas and Easter - was also the new name chosen by Catholicos Karekin II for Deacon Harutyun Hambardzumyan, who was ordained into the priesthood. The moving ordination and liturgical services were performed in front of an illuminated, vibrantly alive, gold-and-silver altar lit with candles. The powerful and precise 26-member choir of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin provided the live soundtrack of the service from the balcony. In the pews stood a diverse audience of congregants from all corners of the world, who had come on a pilgrimage from ...