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PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.armenianchurch.net
May 11, 2009
ST. VARTAN CATHEDRAL IN NYC TO UNVEIL AND CONSECRATE NEW BRONZE ENTRY DOORS,
ON SUN. MAY 31
St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, the "mother cathedral" for Armenians across
the country, celebrated the 40th anniversary of its consecration last year.
The majestic structure located in Midtown Manhattan was arguably the most
ambitious undertaking of the Armenian American community; and the resulting
structure stands as an enduring monument to the Armenian presence in U.S.
Although the structure itself has long been completed, a number of the
refinements of the original cathedral project were put on hold, for
financial and other reasons, at the time of its construction and
consecration in the mid-1960s. These have been approached in a piecemeal
fashion over the years, gradually fulfilling the larger creative intention
of the cathedral's designers.
This month, one of those long-delayed elements will reach its completion,
and will be officially unveiled to the public.
On Sunday, May 31, new bronze entry doors will be blessed in an outdoor
ceremony on the St. Vartan Cathedral plaza. The doors are remarkable works
of art, depicting in a three-dimensional relief the baptism of Armenia's
King Drtad III by St. Gregory the Illuminator. That development marked
Armenia's conversion to Christianity, making it the first nation in the
world to do so.
Providing a bronze entry portal for St. Vartan Cathedral has been a project
"on the drawing board" for some time. Indeed, the unveiling and
consecration of the doors will be the culmination of three decades of
effort, according to Fr. Mardiros Chevian, the cathedral dean.
"Back in the 1970s, the St. Vartan Cathedral Guild seized on the idea," Fr.
Chevian said. "At the time the Guild was led by Mrs. Alice Kavookjian, and
she and her group-all very vibrant, strong, enterprising ladies-started the
fundraising. Over time they assembled a significant sum for the doors."
Those funds lay dormant for a while, as the cathedral (and the community
itself) turned its attention to other matters. But recently, a sizable
contribution from the Dadourian family-descendants of one of the original
benefactors of the cathedral-allowed the project to move forward.
"The Dadourian family's generosity allowed us to complete the doors project,
and finally let it see the light of day," Fr. Chevian said.
A committee comprised of Fr. Garabed Kochakian, Yeretzgin Yefkin Megherian,
and Michael Haratunian designed the doors, conceived the artwork, and guided
the engineering. Fabricating the doors was a labor of love for Setrak
Agonian and his International Creative Metal firm.
Fr. Chevian sees the ceremony on Sunday, May 31 as a fitting conclusion to
St. Vartan Cathedral's year-long 40th anniversary observance.
"The doors were in the original plan for the structure, and fulfilling that
plan was the dream of the people who devoted so much time and labor to the
cathedral-especially for that early generation, many of whom have now
departed this world," he said. "They started raising the money, mostly from
people of average means, giving small amounts over the course of many years.
They kept the idea alive. And now, to fulfill their dream-it will be a way
of honoring those people, and celebrating what they have given to our
community."
The surviving members of the St. Vartan Cathedral Guild, as well as members
of the Dadourian family, will be on hand at the consecration, to be
recognized and honored.
In addition, as part of the day's events two other families-the Gulbenkians
and the Diarbekirians-as well as the Knights and Daughters of Vartan
organization will be recognized for their contributions to the realization
of the building of the Diocesan Center.
The ceremonies on Sunday, May 31 will begin with the celebration of the
Divine Liturgy in the cathedral sanctuary, at 10:30 a.m. The unveiling and
consecration of the new bronze doors will take place on the cathedral's
outdoor plaza, directly after the services, at around 12:30 p.m.
His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, the Diocesan Primate, will
celebrate the Divine Liturgy and consecrate the doors.
A reception will take place after the consecration, in Haik and Alice
Kavookjian Auditorium; a special photo and art exhibit will be on display in
the adjacent Guild Hall. All events are free and open to the public.
St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral is located at 630 Second Avenue, at 34th
Street, in New York City. For information on the consecration, contact the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) at (212) 686-0710.
--5/11/09
* * *
PHOTO CAPTION:
Detail of the new bronze entry portal for New York's St. Vartan Armenian
Cathedral, which will be unveiled to the public and consecrated on Sunday,
May 31, 2009.
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.armenianchurch.net
May 11, 2009
ST. VARTAN CATHEDRAL IN NYC TO UNVEIL AND CONSECRATE NEW BRONZE ENTRY DOORS,
ON SUN. MAY 31
St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, the "mother cathedral" for Armenians across
the country, celebrated the 40th anniversary of its consecration last year.
The majestic structure located in Midtown Manhattan was arguably the most
ambitious undertaking of the Armenian American community; and the resulting
structure stands as an enduring monument to the Armenian presence in U.S.
Although the structure itself has long been completed, a number of the
refinements of the original cathedral project were put on hold, for
financial and other reasons, at the time of its construction and
consecration in the mid-1960s. These have been approached in a piecemeal
fashion over the years, gradually fulfilling the larger creative intention
of the cathedral's designers.
This month, one of those long-delayed elements will reach its completion,
and will be officially unveiled to the public.
On Sunday, May 31, new bronze entry doors will be blessed in an outdoor
ceremony on the St. Vartan Cathedral plaza. The doors are remarkable works
of art, depicting in a three-dimensional relief the baptism of Armenia's
King Drtad III by St. Gregory the Illuminator. That development marked
Armenia's conversion to Christianity, making it the first nation in the
world to do so.
Providing a bronze entry portal for St. Vartan Cathedral has been a project
"on the drawing board" for some time. Indeed, the unveiling and
consecration of the doors will be the culmination of three decades of
effort, according to Fr. Mardiros Chevian, the cathedral dean.
"Back in the 1970s, the St. Vartan Cathedral Guild seized on the idea," Fr.
Chevian said. "At the time the Guild was led by Mrs. Alice Kavookjian, and
she and her group-all very vibrant, strong, enterprising ladies-started the
fundraising. Over time they assembled a significant sum for the doors."
Those funds lay dormant for a while, as the cathedral (and the community
itself) turned its attention to other matters. But recently, a sizable
contribution from the Dadourian family-descendants of one of the original
benefactors of the cathedral-allowed the project to move forward.
"The Dadourian family's generosity allowed us to complete the doors project,
and finally let it see the light of day," Fr. Chevian said.
A committee comprised of Fr. Garabed Kochakian, Yeretzgin Yefkin Megherian,
and Michael Haratunian designed the doors, conceived the artwork, and guided
the engineering. Fabricating the doors was a labor of love for Setrak
Agonian and his International Creative Metal firm.
Fr. Chevian sees the ceremony on Sunday, May 31 as a fitting conclusion to
St. Vartan Cathedral's year-long 40th anniversary observance.
"The doors were in the original plan for the structure, and fulfilling that
plan was the dream of the people who devoted so much time and labor to the
cathedral-especially for that early generation, many of whom have now
departed this world," he said. "They started raising the money, mostly from
people of average means, giving small amounts over the course of many years.
They kept the idea alive. And now, to fulfill their dream-it will be a way
of honoring those people, and celebrating what they have given to our
community."
The surviving members of the St. Vartan Cathedral Guild, as well as members
of the Dadourian family, will be on hand at the consecration, to be
recognized and honored.
In addition, as part of the day's events two other families-the Gulbenkians
and the Diarbekirians-as well as the Knights and Daughters of Vartan
organization will be recognized for their contributions to the realization
of the building of the Diocesan Center.
The ceremonies on Sunday, May 31 will begin with the celebration of the
Divine Liturgy in the cathedral sanctuary, at 10:30 a.m. The unveiling and
consecration of the new bronze doors will take place on the cathedral's
outdoor plaza, directly after the services, at around 12:30 p.m.
His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, the Diocesan Primate, will
celebrate the Divine Liturgy and consecrate the doors.
A reception will take place after the consecration, in Haik and Alice
Kavookjian Auditorium; a special photo and art exhibit will be on display in
the adjacent Guild Hall. All events are free and open to the public.
St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral is located at 630 Second Avenue, at 34th
Street, in New York City. For information on the consecration, contact the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) at (212) 686-0710.
--5/11/09
* * *
PHOTO CAPTION:
Detail of the new bronze entry portal for New York's St. Vartan Armenian
Cathedral, which will be unveiled to the public and consecrated on Sunday,
May 31, 2009.