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ARMENIAN ARCHBISHOP HONORED, LAID TO REST AT HOLY CROSS IN MONTEBELLO
Tracy Garcia
Whittier Daily News
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_15609027
July 27 2010
MA
MONTEBELLO - Archbishop Sumbat Lapajian was many things to many people,
particularly those he grew close to during the last 25 years he spent
guiding the congregation at the local Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic
Cathedral.
But first and foremost, officials said, he was a humble and faithful
servant of God. That's why nearly 400 people gathered Monday at Holy
Cross to pay their final respects to Lapajian, who died July 17 at
the Ararat home in Mission Hills after a long illness. He was 83.
Lapajian, co-founder and first prelate of the Western Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America, was the only one to receive
special permission to be buried at Holy Cross, on a grassy patch next
to the cathedral.
The rare burial ceremony took place Monday immediately following a
two-hour funeral Mass that was officiated by the current head of the
Western Prelacy, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.
"You all have your own personal memories of him," Mardirossian told
the somber, standing-room-only crowd. "He was a devoted pastor and
spiritual leader. In good times and in bad, he was always there.
"He was a family member - a father figure, a grandfather - mentor
and friend," Mardirossian said. "And he was also a talented teacher
who touched the lives of many of his students."
The service was elaborate, with church leaders dressed in white,
gold, blue, red and purple capes and robes and donning black hoods.
Lapajian's open casket was at the front of the church during Mass and
was moved at particular times during the ceremony so his body faced
north, south, east and west.
Lapajian's forehead and hands were anointed with oil by Mardirossian
and covered with cotton, serving as a site where mourners could kiss
him to pay their last respects.
Lapajian began his religious service in the late 1940s, when he
attended the Seminary of the Armenian Catholicossate in Lebanon,
then served as a deacon in the Armenian section of the Holy Sepulchre
Cathedral in Jerusalem in 1953.
He taught in Armenian schools in Lebanon and Jordan until 1958,
when he was ordained a celibate priest.
After earning a bachelor's degree in theology from Haigazian
University, Lapajian taught Armenian at UCLA in the 1960s and was
also involved with the educational and administrative development of
the Armenian Mesrobian School in Pico Rivera.
He was appointed pastor of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Cross Church
of Los Angeles in 1961, a post he kept until he was elected prelate
of the Western Prelacy in 1973.
In 1974, he was consecrated a bishop in Lebanon and received the
title of archbishop in 1981. In 1985, he played a crucial part in
the development of the Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello, where he
served as dean from 1985-1994.
He officially retired in 1994 from his administrative duties but
continued with voluntary ministry at Holy Cross, officials said.
His deep roots at Holy Cross are the reason he received special
permission to be buried there - his own personal request, officials
said.
"I was not surprised by that request. I knew how much he loved the
Holy Cross community, and it was evident in everything he did," said
Shiraz Savoian, 37, who was among those who attended Monday's services.
Lapajian married Savoian's parents, christened Savoian, married
Savoian and his wife and also christened his son.
"He passed through three generations of my family - and that's not an
uncommon story in this community," Savoian said. "When he passed on,
it was a big loss for us.
Lapajian, co-founder and first prelate of the Western Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America, was the only one to receive
special permission to be buried at Holy Cross, on a grassy patch next
to the cathedral.
The rare burial ceremony took place Monday immediately following a
two-hour funeral Mass that was officiated by the current head of the
Western Prelacy, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.
"You all have your own personal memories of him," Mardirossian told
the somber, standing-room-only crowd. "He was a devoted pastor and
spiritual leader. In good times and in bad, he was always there.
"He was a family member - a father figure, a grandfather - mentor
and friend," Mardirossian said. "And he was also a talented teacher
who touched the lives of many of his students."
The service was elaborate, with church leaders dressed in white,
gold, blue, red and purple capes and robes and donning black hoods.
Lapajian's open casket was at the front of the church during Mass and
was moved at particular times during the ceremony so his body faced
north, south, east and west.
Lapajian's forehead and hands were anointed with oil by Mardirossian
and covered with cotton, serving as a site where mourners could kiss
him to pay their last respects.
Lapajian began his religious service in the late 1940s, when he
attended the Seminary of the Armenian Catholicossate in Lebanon,
then served as a deacon in the Armenian section of the Holy Sepulchre
Cathedral in Jerusalem in 1953.
He taught in Armenian schools in Lebanon and Jordan until 1958,
when he was ordained a celibate priest.
After earning a bachelor's degree in theology from Haigazian
University, Lapajian taught Armenian at UCLA in the 1960s and was
also involved with the educational and administrative development of
the Armenian Mesrobian School in Pico Rivera.
He was appointed pastor of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Cross Church
of Los Angeles in 1961, a post he kept until he was elected prelate
of the Western Prelacy in 1973.
In 1974, he was consecrated a bishop in Lebanon and received the
title of archbishop in 1981. In 1985, he played a crucial part in
the development of the Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello, where he
served as dean from 1985-1994.
He officially retired in 1994 from his administrative duties but
continued with voluntary ministry at Holy Cross, officials said.
His deep roots at Holy Cross are the reason he received special
permission to be buried there - his own personal request, officials
said.
"I was not surprised by that request. I knew how much he loved the
Holy Cross community, and it was evident in everything he did," said
Shiraz Savoian, 37, who was among those who attended Monday's services.
Lapajian married Savoian's parents, christened Savoian, married
Savoian and his wife and also christened his son.
"He passed through three generations of my family - and that's not an
uncommon story in this community," Savoian said. "When he passed on,
it was a big loss for us.
From: A. Papazian
Tracy Garcia
Whittier Daily News
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_15609027
July 27 2010
MA
MONTEBELLO - Archbishop Sumbat Lapajian was many things to many people,
particularly those he grew close to during the last 25 years he spent
guiding the congregation at the local Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic
Cathedral.
But first and foremost, officials said, he was a humble and faithful
servant of God. That's why nearly 400 people gathered Monday at Holy
Cross to pay their final respects to Lapajian, who died July 17 at
the Ararat home in Mission Hills after a long illness. He was 83.
Lapajian, co-founder and first prelate of the Western Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America, was the only one to receive
special permission to be buried at Holy Cross, on a grassy patch next
to the cathedral.
The rare burial ceremony took place Monday immediately following a
two-hour funeral Mass that was officiated by the current head of the
Western Prelacy, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.
"You all have your own personal memories of him," Mardirossian told
the somber, standing-room-only crowd. "He was a devoted pastor and
spiritual leader. In good times and in bad, he was always there.
"He was a family member - a father figure, a grandfather - mentor
and friend," Mardirossian said. "And he was also a talented teacher
who touched the lives of many of his students."
The service was elaborate, with church leaders dressed in white,
gold, blue, red and purple capes and robes and donning black hoods.
Lapajian's open casket was at the front of the church during Mass and
was moved at particular times during the ceremony so his body faced
north, south, east and west.
Lapajian's forehead and hands were anointed with oil by Mardirossian
and covered with cotton, serving as a site where mourners could kiss
him to pay their last respects.
Lapajian began his religious service in the late 1940s, when he
attended the Seminary of the Armenian Catholicossate in Lebanon,
then served as a deacon in the Armenian section of the Holy Sepulchre
Cathedral in Jerusalem in 1953.
He taught in Armenian schools in Lebanon and Jordan until 1958,
when he was ordained a celibate priest.
After earning a bachelor's degree in theology from Haigazian
University, Lapajian taught Armenian at UCLA in the 1960s and was
also involved with the educational and administrative development of
the Armenian Mesrobian School in Pico Rivera.
He was appointed pastor of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Cross Church
of Los Angeles in 1961, a post he kept until he was elected prelate
of the Western Prelacy in 1973.
In 1974, he was consecrated a bishop in Lebanon and received the
title of archbishop in 1981. In 1985, he played a crucial part in
the development of the Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello, where he
served as dean from 1985-1994.
He officially retired in 1994 from his administrative duties but
continued with voluntary ministry at Holy Cross, officials said.
His deep roots at Holy Cross are the reason he received special
permission to be buried there - his own personal request, officials
said.
"I was not surprised by that request. I knew how much he loved the
Holy Cross community, and it was evident in everything he did," said
Shiraz Savoian, 37, who was among those who attended Monday's services.
Lapajian married Savoian's parents, christened Savoian, married
Savoian and his wife and also christened his son.
"He passed through three generations of my family - and that's not an
uncommon story in this community," Savoian said. "When he passed on,
it was a big loss for us.
Lapajian, co-founder and first prelate of the Western Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America, was the only one to receive
special permission to be buried at Holy Cross, on a grassy patch next
to the cathedral.
The rare burial ceremony took place Monday immediately following a
two-hour funeral Mass that was officiated by the current head of the
Western Prelacy, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.
"You all have your own personal memories of him," Mardirossian told
the somber, standing-room-only crowd. "He was a devoted pastor and
spiritual leader. In good times and in bad, he was always there.
"He was a family member - a father figure, a grandfather - mentor
and friend," Mardirossian said. "And he was also a talented teacher
who touched the lives of many of his students."
The service was elaborate, with church leaders dressed in white,
gold, blue, red and purple capes and robes and donning black hoods.
Lapajian's open casket was at the front of the church during Mass and
was moved at particular times during the ceremony so his body faced
north, south, east and west.
Lapajian's forehead and hands were anointed with oil by Mardirossian
and covered with cotton, serving as a site where mourners could kiss
him to pay their last respects.
Lapajian began his religious service in the late 1940s, when he
attended the Seminary of the Armenian Catholicossate in Lebanon,
then served as a deacon in the Armenian section of the Holy Sepulchre
Cathedral in Jerusalem in 1953.
He taught in Armenian schools in Lebanon and Jordan until 1958,
when he was ordained a celibate priest.
After earning a bachelor's degree in theology from Haigazian
University, Lapajian taught Armenian at UCLA in the 1960s and was
also involved with the educational and administrative development of
the Armenian Mesrobian School in Pico Rivera.
He was appointed pastor of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Cross Church
of Los Angeles in 1961, a post he kept until he was elected prelate
of the Western Prelacy in 1973.
In 1974, he was consecrated a bishop in Lebanon and received the
title of archbishop in 1981. In 1985, he played a crucial part in
the development of the Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello, where he
served as dean from 1985-1994.
He officially retired in 1994 from his administrative duties but
continued with voluntary ministry at Holy Cross, officials said.
His deep roots at Holy Cross are the reason he received special
permission to be buried there - his own personal request, officials
said.
"I was not surprised by that request. I knew how much he loved the
Holy Cross community, and it was evident in everything he did," said
Shiraz Savoian, 37, who was among those who attended Monday's services.
Lapajian married Savoian's parents, christened Savoian, married
Savoian and his wife and also christened his son.
"He passed through three generations of my family - and that's not an
uncommon story in this community," Savoian said. "When he passed on,
it was a big loss for us.
From: A. Papazian