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HACHIKIAN BROTHERS RENOVATE VILLAGE CHURCH IN MEMORY OF THEIR FATHER
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/03/05/hachikian-brothers-renovate-village-church-in-memory-of-their-father/
March 5, 2013
Residents of Lernanist village in Armenia's Kotayk province gathered
last fall for the consecration of a newly renovated 19th-century
church. The renovation was made possible by two deacons in the Boston
area who carried out the project in memory of their late father,
Krikor Hachikian.
Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church in Lernanist village, Armenia.
Dn. Varoujan Hachikian and his brother Dn. Zakar Hachikian-both of
whom serve at Sts. Vartanants Church of Chelmsford, Mass., and Hye
Pointe Church of Haverhill, Mass.-first decided to take up the task of
renovating Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church a few years ago, at the request
of His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians.
The work included building a new altar and bell tower, replacing the
roof and windows, reinforcing the interior and exterior walls and the
foundation of the structure, and replacing the floor. The brothers
also commissioned a new church bell from Russia and provided a new
altar icon, vestments and liturgical vessels, books, rugs, and other
furnishings.
On Oct. 27, 2012, Bishop Arakel Karamian, Primate of the Diocese
of Kotayk, consecrated the house of worship. Bishop Karamian placed
a special stone above the main entrance of the church in memory of
Krikor Hachikian.
Dn. Zakar Hachikian and his wife Gayane traveled to Lernanist village
to take part in the service. Hundreds of local residents, government
officials, and other dignitaries attended the service and the banquet
that followed. A traditional blessing of madagh was also held, and
some of the residents and guests were baptized.
The Lernanist village (known as Verin Akhta until 1978), with a
population of 4,000, is home to the descendants of Armenian settlers
from Van, who first erected a small chapel, named Sourp Hagop,
on the site of the present church. As the village population rose,
Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church was built to meet the needs of the growing
community. The new church was consecrated in 1906, but was shut down by
the Soviet regime in 1932. The sanctuary was used to store grain, and
was later converted into a function hall for weddings and other events.
Since the opening of the Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church last fall, services
and sacraments are performed on a regular basis. Bishop Karamian has
appointed an interim pastor for Lernanist, and a permanent priest is
expected to serve the parish in the near future.
Meanwhile, the Hachikian brothers have taken up another renovation
project, a 7th-century church in Talin, Armenia, which they expect
to complete by the fall of 2013. This project is dedicated to the
memory of Armenians who lost their lives in Pontic Amasia between
1894 and 1923.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/03/05/hachikian-brothers-renovate-village-church-in-memory-of-their-father/
March 5, 2013
Residents of Lernanist village in Armenia's Kotayk province gathered
last fall for the consecration of a newly renovated 19th-century
church. The renovation was made possible by two deacons in the Boston
area who carried out the project in memory of their late father,
Krikor Hachikian.
Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church in Lernanist village, Armenia.
Dn. Varoujan Hachikian and his brother Dn. Zakar Hachikian-both of
whom serve at Sts. Vartanants Church of Chelmsford, Mass., and Hye
Pointe Church of Haverhill, Mass.-first decided to take up the task of
renovating Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church a few years ago, at the request
of His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians.
The work included building a new altar and bell tower, replacing the
roof and windows, reinforcing the interior and exterior walls and the
foundation of the structure, and replacing the floor. The brothers
also commissioned a new church bell from Russia and provided a new
altar icon, vestments and liturgical vessels, books, rugs, and other
furnishings.
On Oct. 27, 2012, Bishop Arakel Karamian, Primate of the Diocese
of Kotayk, consecrated the house of worship. Bishop Karamian placed
a special stone above the main entrance of the church in memory of
Krikor Hachikian.
Dn. Zakar Hachikian and his wife Gayane traveled to Lernanist village
to take part in the service. Hundreds of local residents, government
officials, and other dignitaries attended the service and the banquet
that followed. A traditional blessing of madagh was also held, and
some of the residents and guests were baptized.
The Lernanist village (known as Verin Akhta until 1978), with a
population of 4,000, is home to the descendants of Armenian settlers
from Van, who first erected a small chapel, named Sourp Hagop,
on the site of the present church. As the village population rose,
Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church was built to meet the needs of the growing
community. The new church was consecrated in 1906, but was shut down by
the Soviet regime in 1932. The sanctuary was used to store grain, and
was later converted into a function hall for weddings and other events.
Since the opening of the Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church last fall, services
and sacraments are performed on a regular basis. Bishop Karamian has
appointed an interim pastor for Lernanist, and a permanent priest is
expected to serve the parish in the near future.
Meanwhile, the Hachikian brothers have taken up another renovation
project, a 7th-century church in Talin, Armenia, which they expect
to complete by the fall of 2013. This project is dedicated to the
memory of Armenians who lost their lives in Pontic Amasia between
1894 and 1923.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress