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PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website:  www.armenianchurch.org
July 13, 2007
Alex and Marie Manoogian Interred in Holy Etchmiadzin
On the morning of Tuesday, July 17, the earthly remains of National Hero of
the Republic of Armenia, Life President of the Armenian General Benevolent
Union and national benefactor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Alex
Manoogian, and those of his wife, Marie Manoogian, were committed to the
soil on the grounds of Holy Etchmiadzin.  The service and ceremonies were
offered with full state honors and the holy rites of the Church.
Alex Manoogian died in 1996, his wife Marie in 1993.  Prior to their burial
in Holy Etchmiadzin, they had been interred in Detroit, Michigan (U.S.A.).
Commencing at 10:00 A.M., the caskets bearing the remains of the renowned
Armenians were brought from the Monastery of St. Gayane to the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin by the honor guard of the Armed Forces of the Republic of
Armenia, and placed before the St. Trdat Open-Air Altar.
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
presided and offered the solemn Repose of Souls service, with the
participation of President of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharian,
President of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh Arkady Ghoukasian, President
of the National Assembly of Armenia Tigran Torosian, Prime Minister of
Armenia Serge Sargsian, the children of Alex and Marie Manoogian - Louise
Manoogian Simone and Richard Manoogian, and Manoogian family members.
Also present for the service were diocesan primates from throughout Armenia,
members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, government ministers of the
Republic of Armenia, AGBU President Berge Setrakian, AGBU Central Board
members, and hundreds of faithful Armenian sons and daughters, who had come
to pay their final respects to the devoted scions of the nation.
During the service, His Holiness Karekin II addressed his message to all
present, stating, `Our souls are happy today, to see the earthly remains of
Alex and Marie Manoogian interred in their native land which they always
cherished, and in Holy Etchmiadzin which they dearly loved, kept close to
their hearts and from which they were never separated.  Generation upon
generation of our children will visit the Treasury Museum built through the
patronage of Alex and Marie Manoogian and come to pay respects to their
final resting place.  They will pray within the churches constructed and
renovated by their donations; learn in educational institutions operating
under their sponsorship; and be inspired by their good works and their
patriotic and church-loving spirit and example, for although `born as
mortals, [they] bequeathed an immortal memory'.  It is in this manner that a
people endure - through devotion, service, noble and valiant deeds and an
appreciation and evaluation thereof - from generation to generation.  This
is the path and life of a blessed people, since `If any man's work abide
which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.'' (I Corinthians
3:14)
(The full text of His Holiness' remarks appears at the end of this article).
Next, the military honor guard led the funeral cortege toward the gravesite
located in front of the Treasury Museum built through the philanthropy of
the Alex and Marie Manoogian.  The solemn procession of deacons, priests,
bishops and the Pontiff of All Armenians, was followed by President
Kocharian, Richard Manoogian, Louise Manoogian Simone, the President of the
National Assembly, the Prime Minister, government ministers, Manoogian
family members and the faithful.
Arriving at the gravesite, His Holiness presided and offered the Burial
Service, following which, the flag of the Republic of Armenia was removed
from the casket of Alex Manoogian and presented to Richard Manoogian and
Louise Manoogian Simone by the commanding officer of the honor guard.  As
the military band played the national anthem of the Republic of Armenia, the
twin caskets containing the earthly remains of the benefactors of blessed
memory were lowered into the ground.
During a reception held in the Pontifical Residence following the service,
His Holiness invited National Assembly President Tigran Torosian to address
the guests on behalf of the government of the Republic of Armenia.  He
stated in part, `Alex Manoogian's life and work was a remarkable embodiment
of love and dedication - for his family, his people and our homeland.  And
this is why, even after his earthly life has come to an end, his work is
being continued by his children, Louise Manoogian Simone and Richard
Manoogian.  By returning to the homeland, the great benefactor has
undertaken his final mission - to inspire countless Armenians by his
presence and example to carry out nation-devoted pursuits, because he has
undeniably demonstrated that personal wealth only receives meaning and value
through philanthropy and devotion.'
His Holiness next invited Richard Manoogian to share his thoughts on the
historic occasion of his parents' interment in Holy Etchmiadzin.  Mr.
Manoogian stated, `Their lives have symbolized for us a shining path, always
directed to the ancient soil of Armenia.  While my father did not choose in
his life to join the sacred ranks of clergy, deep in his heart he cherished
a tremendous love for the Armenian Apostolic Church.  His deep religious
faith and his commitment to the religion of his forefathers guided him
throughout his life and that is why he contributed so much to the Armenian
Church, by serving as a deacon in his early years and by building holy
sanctuaries throughout his lifetime. ...This is a very special honor bestowed
upon them by the Armenian Church, in appreciation of their commitment and
service to Armenia, our fatherland and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
`My father always remembered fondly his time spent in Armenia, and
especially the day the Alex and Marie Manoogian Museum here was dedicated. 
He expressed his deep feelings by stating: `Every person has a dream in
life.  For me it had always been a dream to be able to add my own brick to
the edifice of our ancestral homeland...I feel rewarded that I have had the
opportunity to place a stone on the hallowed soil of the homeland at the
most sacred site of Holy Etchmiadzin.'
`I feel that my father's soul has always resided in this holy place and
today his body, and that of my mother, joins as well; body and soul together
to rest here for eternity.  I cannot imagine any place other than Armenia,
where my parents' souls could find lasting peace.'
The journey of Alex and Marie Manoogian's life was presented by their
daughter, Louise Manoogian Simone.  In her remarks, she reflected on the
early lives of her parents and the experiences they shared which shaped
their future, as well as the dreams that Alex Manoogian had throughout his
lifetime.  Reflecting on her father's labors and mission, she noted, `In
1953, when Alex Manoogian was elected president of the AGBU, he and my
mother began to travel the world to evaluate the needs of the Armenian
Diaspora.  He dedicated his presidency to creating Armenian schools and
centers throughout the world.  However, he always said that the Church was
the most important Armenian institution.
`I've always regretted that due to ill health, my parents could not travel
to Armenia after independence and see the dramatic progress year after
year.  My father was honored often in his lifetime, but his proudest moment
came when he was named National Hero of Armenia by President Levon Ter
Petrosian in 1993.
`Today, I can feel my parents smiling in heaven, amazed that a new era has
begun in their lives; and grateful to His Holiness that they will now rest
eternally on this blessed earth of Holy Etchmiadzin, the heart and soul of
every Armenian - past, present, and future.
`Your Holiness, each member of our family thanks you for the unexpected,
exceptional tribute you have bestowed on Alex and Marie Manoogian.  Words
cannot express our gratitude.  You have immortalized the deeds of our
parents and their lifelong dedication to their Church and their heritage.
`President Robert Kocharian, our family thanks you for all you've done.  We
will never forget the impressive reception upon my parents' arrival and
today's emotional interment.  Even my father, with all his dreams, could not
have imagined these last few days.  We would also like to express our deep
appreciation to the president of Nagorno Karabagh, Arkady Ghoukasian, for
joining us today, the President of the Parliament Tigran Torossian, and
Prime Minister Serge Sarkissian, for their presence, both at the airport and
today at Holy Etchmiadzin.'
At the conclusion of the reception, the Manoogian family joined the Armenian
Pontiff and the bishops once more back at the gravesite, where His Holiness
offered the rite of Sealing of the Grave, ending the interment service and
concluding the journey of Alex and Marie Manoogian's repatriation to their
homeland.
* * *
THE MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II
SUPREME PATRIARCH AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS
ON THE OCCASION OF THE INTERMENT OF
NATIONAL BENEFACTORS ALEX AND MARIE MANOOGIAN
IN THE MOTHER SEE OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN
17 July 2007,  Holy Etchmiadzin
Mr. President,
Dear Manoogian Family and Beloved Pious Armenians,
This day is a memorable one - its mystery is significant and cherished. 
Through the Will of God, desire has become reality.  The devoted scions of
our people and great benefactors of our nation and Church, Alex and Marie
Manoogian, find their final resting place on the free soil of the homeland,
under the shelter of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and in view of Mount
Ararat.
Today, as we stand before their luminous memory, we are enveloped with
boundless appreciation for their life - a life filled with service provided
to the nation and countless praiseworthy accomplishments.
Great service was destined for Alex Manoogian in the life of our people,
which he undertook with devotion and eagerness.  With a grand vision, he
brought his exceptional contribution and labors to the mission of the
Armenian General Benevolent Union, earning the high honor of Life President
of the Union.  Through the diligent leadership of Alex Manoogian, the
international activities of the AGBU expanded and flourished.  In the
decades following the Genocide of the Armenians, his goal was to bring his
utmost assistance to Armenians dispersed throughout the world on foreign
shores and to keep them united.  In the life of the Diaspora, alongside
numerous national institutions, he placed extraordinary importance on the
Armenian school and the Armenian Church, so that the legacy of his forebears
would be preserved unspoiled and transmitted to the generations - so that
the souls of all Armenians would be nourished with `Armenianness' and
reinforced with faith.
With warm filial love, Alex and Marie Manoogian endeavored, cared and
strived for the vibrancy of Holy Etchmiadzin.  Their names are inseparable
from the history of the Mother See, just as their lives were indivisible
from its mission.  In those days, when life in Armenia and the Diaspora was
separated by an iron curtain, Alex Manoogian, as the native son of his
people, was always connected to the concerns of the homeland and lived with
its hopes.  He lived and toiled with the belief in the unity of our people,
the liberty of our homeland and the renaissance of Armenian life.  It would
truly be difficult to find a significant event or occurrence in our
national-ecclesiastical life during the second half of the previous century
that does not have Alex Manoogian's name closely associated with it.  Our
newly independent country worthily appreciated Alex Manoogian's services and
contributions to national life, and bestowed on him the high honor of
National Hero.  With the same moral character and noble vigilance of their
patriotic and church-loving parents, the Manoogian children - Richard
Manoogian and Louise Manoogian Simone - continue to serve our people through
their philanthropy, bringing new contributions to the vitality of our Holy
Church and progress and prosperity to our homeland.
Our souls are happy today, to see the earthly remains of Alex and Marie
Manoogian interred in their native land which they always cherished, and in
Holy Etchmiadzin which they dearly loved, kept close to their hearts and
from which they were never separated.  Generation upon generation of our
children will visit the Treasury Museum built through the patronage of Alex
and Marie Manoogian and come to pay respects to their final resting place. 
They will pray within the churches constructed and renovated by their
donations; learn in educational institutions operating under their
sponsorship; and be inspired by their good works and their patriotic and
church-loving spirit and example, for although `born as mortals, [they]
bequeathed an immortal memory'.  It is in this manner that a people endure -
through devotion, service, noble and valiant deeds and an appreciation and
evaluation thereof - from generation to generation.  This is the path and
life of a blessed people, since `If any man's work abide which he hath built
thereupon, he shall receive a reward.' (I Corinthians 3:14)
We pray and appeal for eternal light and blessings for the righteous souls
of our national benefactors.
Let us offer our prayer of gratitude to heaven, that our Lord has blessed
our people with devoted children, who through their hopes, their faith and
efforts, led our nation toward a new dawn, which shines with the
re-establishment of our statehood, the liberation of Artsakh and the reborn
and blossoming life of the Diaspora.
May the Grace, Love and Blessings of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
be with us and with all. Amen.
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website:  www.armenianchurch.org
July 13, 2007
Alex and Marie Manoogian Interred in Holy Etchmiadzin
On the morning of Tuesday, July 17, the earthly remains of National Hero of
the Republic of Armenia, Life President of the Armenian General Benevolent
Union and national benefactor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Alex
Manoogian, and those of his wife, Marie Manoogian, were committed to the
soil on the grounds of Holy Etchmiadzin.  The service and ceremonies were
offered with full state honors and the holy rites of the Church.
Alex Manoogian died in 1996, his wife Marie in 1993.  Prior to their burial
in Holy Etchmiadzin, they had been interred in Detroit, Michigan (U.S.A.).
Commencing at 10:00 A.M., the caskets bearing the remains of the renowned
Armenians were brought from the Monastery of St. Gayane to the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin by the honor guard of the Armed Forces of the Republic of
Armenia, and placed before the St. Trdat Open-Air Altar.
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
presided and offered the solemn Repose of Souls service, with the
participation of President of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharian,
President of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh Arkady Ghoukasian, President
of the National Assembly of Armenia Tigran Torosian, Prime Minister of
Armenia Serge Sargsian, the children of Alex and Marie Manoogian - Louise
Manoogian Simone and Richard Manoogian, and Manoogian family members.
Also present for the service were diocesan primates from throughout Armenia,
members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, government ministers of the
Republic of Armenia, AGBU President Berge Setrakian, AGBU Central Board
members, and hundreds of faithful Armenian sons and daughters, who had come
to pay their final respects to the devoted scions of the nation.
During the service, His Holiness Karekin II addressed his message to all
present, stating, `Our souls are happy today, to see the earthly remains of
Alex and Marie Manoogian interred in their native land which they always
cherished, and in Holy Etchmiadzin which they dearly loved, kept close to
their hearts and from which they were never separated.  Generation upon
generation of our children will visit the Treasury Museum built through the
patronage of Alex and Marie Manoogian and come to pay respects to their
final resting place.  They will pray within the churches constructed and
renovated by their donations; learn in educational institutions operating
under their sponsorship; and be inspired by their good works and their
patriotic and church-loving spirit and example, for although `born as
mortals, [they] bequeathed an immortal memory'.  It is in this manner that a
people endure - through devotion, service, noble and valiant deeds and an
appreciation and evaluation thereof - from generation to generation.  This
is the path and life of a blessed people, since `If any man's work abide
which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.'' (I Corinthians
3:14)
(The full text of His Holiness' remarks appears at the end of this article).
Next, the military honor guard led the funeral cortege toward the gravesite
located in front of the Treasury Museum built through the philanthropy of
the Alex and Marie Manoogian.  The solemn procession of deacons, priests,
bishops and the Pontiff of All Armenians, was followed by President
Kocharian, Richard Manoogian, Louise Manoogian Simone, the President of the
National Assembly, the Prime Minister, government ministers, Manoogian
family members and the faithful.
Arriving at the gravesite, His Holiness presided and offered the Burial
Service, following which, the flag of the Republic of Armenia was removed
from the casket of Alex Manoogian and presented to Richard Manoogian and
Louise Manoogian Simone by the commanding officer of the honor guard.  As
the military band played the national anthem of the Republic of Armenia, the
twin caskets containing the earthly remains of the benefactors of blessed
memory were lowered into the ground.
During a reception held in the Pontifical Residence following the service,
His Holiness invited National Assembly President Tigran Torosian to address
the guests on behalf of the government of the Republic of Armenia.  He
stated in part, `Alex Manoogian's life and work was a remarkable embodiment
of love and dedication - for his family, his people and our homeland.  And
this is why, even after his earthly life has come to an end, his work is
being continued by his children, Louise Manoogian Simone and Richard
Manoogian.  By returning to the homeland, the great benefactor has
undertaken his final mission - to inspire countless Armenians by his
presence and example to carry out nation-devoted pursuits, because he has
undeniably demonstrated that personal wealth only receives meaning and value
through philanthropy and devotion.'
His Holiness next invited Richard Manoogian to share his thoughts on the
historic occasion of his parents' interment in Holy Etchmiadzin.  Mr.
Manoogian stated, `Their lives have symbolized for us a shining path, always
directed to the ancient soil of Armenia.  While my father did not choose in
his life to join the sacred ranks of clergy, deep in his heart he cherished
a tremendous love for the Armenian Apostolic Church.  His deep religious
faith and his commitment to the religion of his forefathers guided him
throughout his life and that is why he contributed so much to the Armenian
Church, by serving as a deacon in his early years and by building holy
sanctuaries throughout his lifetime. ...This is a very special honor bestowed
upon them by the Armenian Church, in appreciation of their commitment and
service to Armenia, our fatherland and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
`My father always remembered fondly his time spent in Armenia, and
especially the day the Alex and Marie Manoogian Museum here was dedicated. 
He expressed his deep feelings by stating: `Every person has a dream in
life.  For me it had always been a dream to be able to add my own brick to
the edifice of our ancestral homeland...I feel rewarded that I have had the
opportunity to place a stone on the hallowed soil of the homeland at the
most sacred site of Holy Etchmiadzin.'
`I feel that my father's soul has always resided in this holy place and
today his body, and that of my mother, joins as well; body and soul together
to rest here for eternity.  I cannot imagine any place other than Armenia,
where my parents' souls could find lasting peace.'
The journey of Alex and Marie Manoogian's life was presented by their
daughter, Louise Manoogian Simone.  In her remarks, she reflected on the
early lives of her parents and the experiences they shared which shaped
their future, as well as the dreams that Alex Manoogian had throughout his
lifetime.  Reflecting on her father's labors and mission, she noted, `In
1953, when Alex Manoogian was elected president of the AGBU, he and my
mother began to travel the world to evaluate the needs of the Armenian
Diaspora.  He dedicated his presidency to creating Armenian schools and
centers throughout the world.  However, he always said that the Church was
the most important Armenian institution.
`I've always regretted that due to ill health, my parents could not travel
to Armenia after independence and see the dramatic progress year after
year.  My father was honored often in his lifetime, but his proudest moment
came when he was named National Hero of Armenia by President Levon Ter
Petrosian in 1993.
`Today, I can feel my parents smiling in heaven, amazed that a new era has
begun in their lives; and grateful to His Holiness that they will now rest
eternally on this blessed earth of Holy Etchmiadzin, the heart and soul of
every Armenian - past, present, and future.
`Your Holiness, each member of our family thanks you for the unexpected,
exceptional tribute you have bestowed on Alex and Marie Manoogian.  Words
cannot express our gratitude.  You have immortalized the deeds of our
parents and their lifelong dedication to their Church and their heritage.
`President Robert Kocharian, our family thanks you for all you've done.  We
will never forget the impressive reception upon my parents' arrival and
today's emotional interment.  Even my father, with all his dreams, could not
have imagined these last few days.  We would also like to express our deep
appreciation to the president of Nagorno Karabagh, Arkady Ghoukasian, for
joining us today, the President of the Parliament Tigran Torossian, and
Prime Minister Serge Sarkissian, for their presence, both at the airport and
today at Holy Etchmiadzin.'
At the conclusion of the reception, the Manoogian family joined the Armenian
Pontiff and the bishops once more back at the gravesite, where His Holiness
offered the rite of Sealing of the Grave, ending the interment service and
concluding the journey of Alex and Marie Manoogian's repatriation to their
homeland.
* * *
THE MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II
SUPREME PATRIARCH AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS
ON THE OCCASION OF THE INTERMENT OF
NATIONAL BENEFACTORS ALEX AND MARIE MANOOGIAN
IN THE MOTHER SEE OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN
17 July 2007,  Holy Etchmiadzin
Mr. President,
Dear Manoogian Family and Beloved Pious Armenians,
This day is a memorable one - its mystery is significant and cherished. 
Through the Will of God, desire has become reality.  The devoted scions of
our people and great benefactors of our nation and Church, Alex and Marie
Manoogian, find their final resting place on the free soil of the homeland,
under the shelter of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and in view of Mount
Ararat.
Today, as we stand before their luminous memory, we are enveloped with
boundless appreciation for their life - a life filled with service provided
to the nation and countless praiseworthy accomplishments.
Great service was destined for Alex Manoogian in the life of our people,
which he undertook with devotion and eagerness.  With a grand vision, he
brought his exceptional contribution and labors to the mission of the
Armenian General Benevolent Union, earning the high honor of Life President
of the Union.  Through the diligent leadership of Alex Manoogian, the
international activities of the AGBU expanded and flourished.  In the
decades following the Genocide of the Armenians, his goal was to bring his
utmost assistance to Armenians dispersed throughout the world on foreign
shores and to keep them united.  In the life of the Diaspora, alongside
numerous national institutions, he placed extraordinary importance on the
Armenian school and the Armenian Church, so that the legacy of his forebears
would be preserved unspoiled and transmitted to the generations - so that
the souls of all Armenians would be nourished with `Armenianness' and
reinforced with faith.
With warm filial love, Alex and Marie Manoogian endeavored, cared and
strived for the vibrancy of Holy Etchmiadzin.  Their names are inseparable
from the history of the Mother See, just as their lives were indivisible
from its mission.  In those days, when life in Armenia and the Diaspora was
separated by an iron curtain, Alex Manoogian, as the native son of his
people, was always connected to the concerns of the homeland and lived with
its hopes.  He lived and toiled with the belief in the unity of our people,
the liberty of our homeland and the renaissance of Armenian life.  It would
truly be difficult to find a significant event or occurrence in our
national-ecclesiastical life during the second half of the previous century
that does not have Alex Manoogian's name closely associated with it.  Our
newly independent country worthily appreciated Alex Manoogian's services and
contributions to national life, and bestowed on him the high honor of
National Hero.  With the same moral character and noble vigilance of their
patriotic and church-loving parents, the Manoogian children - Richard
Manoogian and Louise Manoogian Simone - continue to serve our people through
their philanthropy, bringing new contributions to the vitality of our Holy
Church and progress and prosperity to our homeland.
Our souls are happy today, to see the earthly remains of Alex and Marie
Manoogian interred in their native land which they always cherished, and in
Holy Etchmiadzin which they dearly loved, kept close to their hearts and
from which they were never separated.  Generation upon generation of our
children will visit the Treasury Museum built through the patronage of Alex
and Marie Manoogian and come to pay respects to their final resting place. 
They will pray within the churches constructed and renovated by their
donations; learn in educational institutions operating under their
sponsorship; and be inspired by their good works and their patriotic and
church-loving spirit and example, for although `born as mortals, [they]
bequeathed an immortal memory'.  It is in this manner that a people endure -
through devotion, service, noble and valiant deeds and an appreciation and
evaluation thereof - from generation to generation.  This is the path and
life of a blessed people, since `If any man's work abide which he hath built
thereupon, he shall receive a reward.' (I Corinthians 3:14)
We pray and appeal for eternal light and blessings for the righteous souls
of our national benefactors.
Let us offer our prayer of gratitude to heaven, that our Lord has blessed
our people with devoted children, who through their hopes, their faith and
efforts, led our nation toward a new dawn, which shines with the
re-establishment of our statehood, the liberation of Artsakh and the reborn
and blossoming life of the Diaspora.
May the Grace, Love and Blessings of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
be with us and with all. Amen.