The Unusual Ordination of Rev. Hovhannes Eskijian

I translated the attached from Rev. Garabed Tilkian’s book: “The 95^th Anniversary of the Armenian Evangelical Church of Kessab, 1853-1948”. Vahe H. Apelian

 

Rev. Hovhannes Iskijian

“On June 22, 1910, during the general assembly of The Union (The Armenian Evangelical Churches in Near East -UAECNA -a.k.a The Union- Vahe), Hovhannes Eskijian was voted unanimously to be ordained as the pastor for the Ekizolukh and Keurkune twin churches. His ordination committee consisted of Rev. H.K. Bulbulian, as the chairperson, Dr. Murrell (?) and Rev. D. (Dikran) Koundakjian. (note: At the time of his ordination Rev. Hovhannes Eskijian was already serving the twin churches of the Ekizolukh and Keurkune and was a member of the committee overseeing the relief  of the 1909 sack and pogrom of Kessab. Miss Effie M. Chambers acted as the secretary of the relief committee and was its only female member -Vahe ) 

The ordination took place on October 23, 1910 at 8:30 a.m. in an open field between Ekizolukh and Keurkune known as Chaghel-Para, under a big fig tree. Two thousand people attended it. Kahana Bedros of Kaladouran also participated in the ceremony. (Note: The fig tree was still standing during my youth and was known as Badveli’s - Pastor's - tree and it was a favorite rest stop for those threading the rocky trail between the two villages-Vahe).

The tenure of  Rev. H. Eskijian as the pastor of the Evangelical Churches of Ekizolukh and Keurkune may be considered the golden era of these twin churches spiritually,, academically, financially and in membership of 110 households and 700 faithful adherents. After serving for 5 years, Rev. Eskijian received a call in 1915 to serve the Armenian Evangelical Church in Aleppo.

After weeks and at times months of wondering on foot, the survivors of the Armenian Genocide in 1915 arrived to Aleppo emaciated and sick. They received the care and the protection of Rev. Hovhannes Eskijian. When the pastor visited one of the make-shift refugee camp, he found a dozen or so emaciated women on the floor with children in the  laps of some of the women clinging to their dead mothers cold breasts but still showing signs of being alive. Moved by this tragic sight, the pastor hurried home, sat motionless, as if lifeless, and started crying his heart out. He returned to the makeshift refugee camp and brought the children with him and entrusted the to his wife to care for them. This became the beginning of an orphanage where surviving orphans and widows were cared for under the able management of the Rev. Hovhannes Ekijian.

The Turkish authorities in Aleppo regarded pastor Eskijian’s devotion towards the Armenians, especially toward the survivors, a treason. (note: Assisting the Armenian genocide survivors was a treason under the prevailing Ottoman laws - Vahe). Consequently Rev. Hovhannes Eskijian was sentenced to death. When the order for his death by hanging was being worded for signature by the governor, Rev Eskijian succumbed to his illness of typhus and passed away in the prison on Mrach 25, 1916. He was in the prime of his life at the age of 34 years.

His widow Mrs. Gulumia and her two orphaned two children presently live in Pasadena, California.”

On a further note it should be noted that   Rev. Hovhannes Eskijian’s sons Luther and John were born in Ekiz Oluk, Kessab. Led by Badveli's son Luther, the surviving family members helped establishing the Eskijian Museum on the Ararat Nursing Facility’s ground in Mission Hills, CA, in honor and remembrance of Rev. Hovhannes Eskijian. The family has kept its ties with Kessab and Kessabtsis. Badveli’ grandson Martin Iskijian is married to a Kessabtsi from the Tootikian family of Ekizolukh, The construction of the Armenian Evangelical Church in Ekizolukh, which is the only church in the village, was initiated Rev. Hovhannes Iskijian in 1912 and was completed a few decades after his death.

Rev. Hovhannes Iskijian wiht his son Luther at the Ekizolukh Armenian Evangelical Church in 1912

The 1909 Kessab Relief committee. 1. Rev. Hovhannes Eskijian, 2. Missionary Effie M. Chambers
3. Rev. Dikran Koundakjian, 4.(third row) Dr. Soghomon Apelian, 4. (back row) Garabed Apelian, Keukune's Moukhtar