Remembering Reverends Ardashes Kerbabian and Manasseh Shnorhokian.

Vahe H. Apelian

 

Armenian Evangelical World Council. First row from left to right: Rev. Albert Paytyan, Rev. Dr. Haoutune Selimian, Rev. Dr. Vahan H. Tootikian, Dr. Nazareth Darakjian, Mr, Zaven Khanjian and Rev. Joel Mikaelian. Second row from left to right: Rev. Calvin Sagherian, Rev Hendrik Shanazarian, Rev. Dr. Rene Leonian and Rev. Hovhaness Hovsepyan

I did not know that there was a Sunday in October, the Armenian culture month, that is singled out for  appreciatng the Armenian Evangelical ministers. Obviously, I had missed making a note of this well-deserved appreciation. 

Today, in the bulletin at the Armenian Church of the Martyrs in Worcester, MA, I read the following.

“By the decision of the Armenian Evangelical World Council, the Armenian Evangelical ministers’ Sunday was changed from the Second Sunday of October to the last Sunday of October. The change was made because that Sunday is Holy Translators’ Sunday. Thus, this year the Ministers’ Appreciation Sunday will be observed on Sunday October 29. The proposal is to devote a part of the Morning Worship Service to acknowledge the church’s gratitude to its past and present ministers for their faithful ministry. 

It is important the part of the specific segment of the service may be led by one of the deacons or lay leaders of the church. At the Church of the Armenia Martyrs, it was Steven Papazian, who is the moderator of the church, who led the responsive reading: 

Dedicated to the Appreciation of Ministers

(L-Leader, P- People, J-Unison

L:  “Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate the faith.” (Hebrews 13:7) Almighty God, Who knows the strong and tender ties which bind us, and Who understands the precious memories we cherish, we consecrate our grateful devotion to You on this Ministers’ Appreciation Sunday.

P: We thank You for the precious heritage of our church, and for its loyal ministry. 

L: In remembrance of those ministers, who have served our church and have provided spiritual leaderhip but are now gone to join the church Triumphant, we thank You, O Lord.

P: We thank you for our present minister (s) and his (their) faithful ministry.

L: Gracious Lod, today as we acknowledge our gratitude to You and Our appreciation to our past and present, active and retired ministers, grant that we may consecrate ourselves anew to the continued service to You and human kind.

U: Lord, unite and strengthen us in Your love, and bind us together for the edification of Christ’s church and for the advancement of you Kingdom. In Jesus’s name. Amen,

***

We started attending the Church of the Armenian Martyrs (Հայ Մարտիրոսաց Եկեղեցի), right after we moved to Worcester, MA during the fall of 2018. Of the ministers who have served this church but are no more with us, I relate to the following two. Rev. Ardashes Kerbabain, who was a native son, born and raised in Keurkune, Kessab and is related to our family. The other is Rev. Manasseh Shnorhokian, who was the Christian ethics teacher of our Armenian Evangelical College, high school graduating class in 1965. 

Our current pastor is Rev. Avedis Boynerian.

From the church's archives Rev. Ardashes Kerbabian at the baptismal of Margaret Rose Wynter. 

With Rev. Manasseh Shnorhokian at the Armenian Home for the Aged f
athers' day picnic in NJ