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OBITUARY: FATHER RAPHAEL ANDONIAN
By Contributor on April 9, 2014
The Armenian Catholic Eparchy of our Lady of Nareg in the Unites States
and Canada, the Armenian Mekhitarist religious order, the Holy Cross
Armenian Catholic Parish Council and faithful with heartfelt sorrow
inform you that our beloved brother, Father Raphael Andonian, pastor
of Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church in Belmont, passed to eternal
rest on Sunday April 6, 2014, in the morning. After battling cancer for
seven months and fortified by the Sacraments of the Catholic Church,
he peacefully commended his spirit into the hands of the Lord.
Fr. Raphael Andonian
The very reverend Fr. Raphael was born in Aleppo, Syria, on January 14,
1941. After his preliminary studies in his native country he arrived
to St. Lazarus in Venice (Italy) on March 8, 1953 at the Mekhitarist
monastery. He made his perpetual vows in 1962; hence, becoming member
of the Mekhitarist Order on the feast of Assumption of the Blessed
Virgin Mary. He was ordained priest in 1965 at the completion of his
philosophical and theological studies, at the Gregorian University
in Rome.
His first mission assignment was to serve at the Samuel Mouradian
College in Paris as vice-principal and later principal of the school.
He also served as teacher, assistant director and director of
Mourad-Raphaelian College in Venice. He served as chief financial
officer of the Mekhitarist religious order of St. Lazzarus in Venice.
His last ministry was to shepherd the Armenian Catholic parish of
Boston where he was totally devoted for the last 20 years of his life.
His major accomplishment was relocating and building the new church
and parish center of Holy Cross Armenian Catholic parish in Belmont.
Father Raphael contributed to the armenological Mekhitarist periodical,
"Pazmaveb," with numerous articles. He also translated several
pastoral letters and encyclicals into Armenian: "Redeemer of Mankind"
by Blessed John Paul II and both "God is Love" and "Gate of Faith"
by Pope Benedict XVI.
Condolences will be received on Wednesday April 9 and Thursday April
10 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church (200
Lexington St., Belmont, MA 02478.) Funeral Mass will be held on Friday
April 11, 2014, at 6:00 PM at Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church
(200 Lexington St., Belmont, MA 02478.)
Respecting the wish of Fr. Raphael, his body will be transported to
St. Lazarus, Mother Monastery of the Mekhitarist Order in Venice,
where funeral and burial services will take place.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to Holy Cross
Armenian Catholic Church. Your contributions will be dedicated to
benefit the displaced Armenian families of Kessab.
Eternal rest, grant unto him O Lord: and let perpetual light shine
upon him.
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2014/04/09/obituary-father-raphael-andonian/
By Contributor on April 9, 2014
The Armenian Catholic Eparchy of our Lady of Nareg in the Unites States
and Canada, the Armenian Mekhitarist religious order, the Holy Cross
Armenian Catholic Parish Council and faithful with heartfelt sorrow
inform you that our beloved brother, Father Raphael Andonian, pastor
of Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church in Belmont, passed to eternal
rest on Sunday April 6, 2014, in the morning. After battling cancer for
seven months and fortified by the Sacraments of the Catholic Church,
he peacefully commended his spirit into the hands of the Lord.
Fr. Raphael Andonian
The very reverend Fr. Raphael was born in Aleppo, Syria, on January 14,
1941. After his preliminary studies in his native country he arrived
to St. Lazarus in Venice (Italy) on March 8, 1953 at the Mekhitarist
monastery. He made his perpetual vows in 1962; hence, becoming member
of the Mekhitarist Order on the feast of Assumption of the Blessed
Virgin Mary. He was ordained priest in 1965 at the completion of his
philosophical and theological studies, at the Gregorian University
in Rome.
His first mission assignment was to serve at the Samuel Mouradian
College in Paris as vice-principal and later principal of the school.
He also served as teacher, assistant director and director of
Mourad-Raphaelian College in Venice. He served as chief financial
officer of the Mekhitarist religious order of St. Lazzarus in Venice.
His last ministry was to shepherd the Armenian Catholic parish of
Boston where he was totally devoted for the last 20 years of his life.
His major accomplishment was relocating and building the new church
and parish center of Holy Cross Armenian Catholic parish in Belmont.
Father Raphael contributed to the armenological Mekhitarist periodical,
"Pazmaveb," with numerous articles. He also translated several
pastoral letters and encyclicals into Armenian: "Redeemer of Mankind"
by Blessed John Paul II and both "God is Love" and "Gate of Faith"
by Pope Benedict XVI.
Condolences will be received on Wednesday April 9 and Thursday April
10 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church (200
Lexington St., Belmont, MA 02478.) Funeral Mass will be held on Friday
April 11, 2014, at 6:00 PM at Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church
(200 Lexington St., Belmont, MA 02478.)
Respecting the wish of Fr. Raphael, his body will be transported to
St. Lazarus, Mother Monastery of the Mekhitarist Order in Venice,
where funeral and burial services will take place.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to Holy Cross
Armenian Catholic Church. Your contributions will be dedicated to
benefit the displaced Armenian families of Kessab.
Eternal rest, grant unto him O Lord: and let perpetual light shine
upon him.
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2014/04/09/obituary-father-raphael-andonian/