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Troy Record, NY
June 30 2013
Parishioners of local Armenian church recall former pastor's love of people, God
By Danielle Sanzone
WATERVLIET - Starting as pastor of the St. Peter Armenian Church in
September 1970, Father Garen Gdanian had been at the church for as
long as most people could remember.
The larger than life figure for the local community passed away on
Thursday at the age of 88.
Gdanian, born in Syria, was ordained as a priest in Massachusetts in
Dec. 1948 after coming over to the United States in 1947. He served as
the pastor of St. Vartanantz in Lowell for nine years and there he met
his wife, Zabelle.
`He always ended conversations with his wife by saying `I love you,''
said Father Stepanos Doudoukjian, who worked with Gdanian at the
Watervliet church. `They had a beautiful love story.'
When Gdanian came to the Capital District, the St. Peter's parish was
building a new church sanctuary in Watervliet. He retired there in
1989, after 19 years in Watervliet and became pastor emeritus until
his recent death.
`I see his empty chair and feel a real void,' said Doudoukjian. `Up
until the Fall, he was still very active with the parish.'
Gdanian was described as a man of peace and a true Shepard to his
flock. `He loved people, he loved the church and, first and foremost,
he loved God,' Doudoukjian added. `And he had a simple, yet profound
approach to giving advice.'
He had been a priest for more than 60 years.
`He had been my priest for as long as I can remember,' said Harry
Tutunjian, former Troy mayor and long-time parishioner. He remembered
Gdanian encouraging him to reignite a Youth Group. `He was a great
leader of the church for many years. He touched so many lives.'
`It saddened me to hear about his passing,' said Richard Hartunian, a
U.S. District Attorney and long-time parishioner at the Armenian
church. `My family had a special relationship with him. This
represents an end of an era.'
Hartunian said that he will always remember Gdanian giving his family
peace of mind during a traumatic and trying time when his 21-year-old
sister Lynne died inhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Am_Flight_103">
Pan Am Flight 103. The transatlantic flight had a bomb on it.
`I remember vividly how he was a calming presence during that time,'
he said. That funeral was held at the Watervliet church and was
attended by thousands.
The funeral service for Father Garen, as he was known by many, will
take place on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at St. Peter Armenian Church.
Interment will follow in Albany Rural Cemetery.
Relatives, friends, clergy and parishioners are invited and may also
visit with Gdanian's family on Monday from 3 to 7 p.m. at St. Peter
Armenian Church. A wake service will take place that evening at 6:30
p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Peter Armenian
Apostolic Church, Building Fund, P.O. Box 196, Watervliet, NY 12189.
http://troyrecord.com/articles/2013/06/30/news/doc51cfd83f4695c997496118.txt
June 30 2013
Parishioners of local Armenian church recall former pastor's love of people, God
By Danielle Sanzone
WATERVLIET - Starting as pastor of the St. Peter Armenian Church in
September 1970, Father Garen Gdanian had been at the church for as
long as most people could remember.
The larger than life figure for the local community passed away on
Thursday at the age of 88.
Gdanian, born in Syria, was ordained as a priest in Massachusetts in
Dec. 1948 after coming over to the United States in 1947. He served as
the pastor of St. Vartanantz in Lowell for nine years and there he met
his wife, Zabelle.
`He always ended conversations with his wife by saying `I love you,''
said Father Stepanos Doudoukjian, who worked with Gdanian at the
Watervliet church. `They had a beautiful love story.'
When Gdanian came to the Capital District, the St. Peter's parish was
building a new church sanctuary in Watervliet. He retired there in
1989, after 19 years in Watervliet and became pastor emeritus until
his recent death.
`I see his empty chair and feel a real void,' said Doudoukjian. `Up
until the Fall, he was still very active with the parish.'
Gdanian was described as a man of peace and a true Shepard to his
flock. `He loved people, he loved the church and, first and foremost,
he loved God,' Doudoukjian added. `And he had a simple, yet profound
approach to giving advice.'
He had been a priest for more than 60 years.
`He had been my priest for as long as I can remember,' said Harry
Tutunjian, former Troy mayor and long-time parishioner. He remembered
Gdanian encouraging him to reignite a Youth Group. `He was a great
leader of the church for many years. He touched so many lives.'
`It saddened me to hear about his passing,' said Richard Hartunian, a
U.S. District Attorney and long-time parishioner at the Armenian
church. `My family had a special relationship with him. This
represents an end of an era.'
Hartunian said that he will always remember Gdanian giving his family
peace of mind during a traumatic and trying time when his 21-year-old
sister Lynne died inhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Am_Flight_103">
Pan Am Flight 103. The transatlantic flight had a bomb on it.
`I remember vividly how he was a calming presence during that time,'
he said. That funeral was held at the Watervliet church and was
attended by thousands.
The funeral service for Father Garen, as he was known by many, will
take place on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at St. Peter Armenian Church.
Interment will follow in Albany Rural Cemetery.
Relatives, friends, clergy and parishioners are invited and may also
visit with Gdanian's family on Monday from 3 to 7 p.m. at St. Peter
Armenian Church. A wake service will take place that evening at 6:30
p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Peter Armenian
Apostolic Church, Building Fund, P.O. Box 196, Watervliet, NY 12189.
http://troyrecord.com/articles/2013/06/30/news/doc51cfd83f4695c997496118.txt