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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
September 19, 2008
100th Anniversary of the Birth of Catholicos of All Armenians Vasken I
On Saturday, September 20, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II,
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, a special Divine Liturgy
will be celebrated in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin on the
occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Armenian Pontiff Vasken I
of blessed memory.
The Liturgy is scheduled to commence at 11:00 a.m.  The celebrant for the
day shall be His Eminence Archbishop Yeznik Petrosian of the Brotherhood of
Holy Etchmiadzin.
Following the Divine Liturgy, a special Repose of Souls service will be
offered in the courtyard of the Mother See, in front of the tomb of His
Holiness Vasken I.
* * *
His Holiness Vasken I
His Holiness Vasken I (Baljian) was born in Bucharest, Romania on September
20, 1908.  He was baptized and given the name Levon Garabed.  He began his
adult life as a philosopher, then became an instructor in local Armenian
schools, and later became a Doctor of Theology and was ordained as a
celibate priest in the Armenian Church.  He quickly became bishop of the
Armenian diocese of Romania and led the Armenian community in Eastern Europe
for a decade.
In 1955, Bishop Vasken Baljian was elected as Catholicos of All Armenians in
Holy Etchmiadzin by the National Ecclesiastical Assembly.  He was one of the
youngest members of the church hierarchy to ascend to the Throne of the
Illuminator.
During his nearly 40-year reign as the Armenian Pontiff, he lived through
many historic events and developments of Armenian life.  He led the Church
through the difficult years of the Cold War between the West and the Soviet
Union, through Détente, through the easing of tensions and restrictions in
the U.S.S.R., through the terrible earthquake that devastated Northern
Armenia in 1988, through the liberation struggle for the Armenians of
Artsakh (Nagorno Karabagh) and the independence movement for Armenia, and
through the difficult war years between Armenia and Azerbaijan.  Finally, at
the very end of his life, Vasken I saw a free and independent Armenian
homeland and a liberated Artsakh, fulfilling the dreams of all Armenians for
more than 600 years.
He was a prolific writer, having published numerous scholarly and
ecclesiastical articles, and valued Christian education as one of the most
important tasks of the Church.  Following independence, he began a
substantial church re-building program and saved numerous historic ancient
churches and monasteries.  He also was successful in saving countless church
treasures and managed to gather priceless relics and manuscripts in Holy
Etchmiadzin for safekeeping.  He traveled extensively, conducting more than
30 pontifical visits during his 39-year reign.  He became the first
Catholicos of All Armenians to ever visit North and South America.
Vasken I also intensified ecumenical ties and emphasized the development and
maintenance of positive inter-Church and inter-faith relations.  He visited
the heads of many sister Churches and leaders of other faiths, and in turn,
received them in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Vasken I entered his eternal rest on August 18, 1994, having served the
Armenian Church and nation with unyielding devotion and unfailing love
throughout his entire life of service.
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
September 19, 2008
100th Anniversary of the Birth of Catholicos of All Armenians Vasken I
On Saturday, September 20, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II,
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, a special Divine Liturgy
will be celebrated in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin on the
occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Armenian Pontiff Vasken I
of blessed memory.
The Liturgy is scheduled to commence at 11:00 a.m.  The celebrant for the
day shall be His Eminence Archbishop Yeznik Petrosian of the Brotherhood of
Holy Etchmiadzin.
Following the Divine Liturgy, a special Repose of Souls service will be
offered in the courtyard of the Mother See, in front of the tomb of His
Holiness Vasken I.
* * *
His Holiness Vasken I
His Holiness Vasken I (Baljian) was born in Bucharest, Romania on September
20, 1908.  He was baptized and given the name Levon Garabed.  He began his
adult life as a philosopher, then became an instructor in local Armenian
schools, and later became a Doctor of Theology and was ordained as a
celibate priest in the Armenian Church.  He quickly became bishop of the
Armenian diocese of Romania and led the Armenian community in Eastern Europe
for a decade.
In 1955, Bishop Vasken Baljian was elected as Catholicos of All Armenians in
Holy Etchmiadzin by the National Ecclesiastical Assembly.  He was one of the
youngest members of the church hierarchy to ascend to the Throne of the
Illuminator.
During his nearly 40-year reign as the Armenian Pontiff, he lived through
many historic events and developments of Armenian life.  He led the Church
through the difficult years of the Cold War between the West and the Soviet
Union, through Détente, through the easing of tensions and restrictions in
the U.S.S.R., through the terrible earthquake that devastated Northern
Armenia in 1988, through the liberation struggle for the Armenians of
Artsakh (Nagorno Karabagh) and the independence movement for Armenia, and
through the difficult war years between Armenia and Azerbaijan.  Finally, at
the very end of his life, Vasken I saw a free and independent Armenian
homeland and a liberated Artsakh, fulfilling the dreams of all Armenians for
more than 600 years.
He was a prolific writer, having published numerous scholarly and
ecclesiastical articles, and valued Christian education as one of the most
important tasks of the Church.  Following independence, he began a
substantial church re-building program and saved numerous historic ancient
churches and monasteries.  He also was successful in saving countless church
treasures and managed to gather priceless relics and manuscripts in Holy
Etchmiadzin for safekeeping.  He traveled extensively, conducting more than
30 pontifical visits during his 39-year reign.  He became the first
Catholicos of All Armenians to ever visit North and South America.
Vasken I also intensified ecumenical ties and emphasized the development and
maintenance of positive inter-Church and inter-faith relations.  He visited
the heads of many sister Churches and leaders of other faiths, and in turn,
received them in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Vasken I entered his eternal rest on August 18, 1994, having served the
Armenian Church and nation with unyielding devotion and unfailing love
throughout his entire life of service.