Holy Trinity Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of Fr. Kouzouian’s Ordination

Weeks before the deadline, the celebration was sold out with approximately 400 parishioners and friends from the greater Boston area, Canada, New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey and California present to show their love and respect for Kouzouian, including sixteen clergymen from the Armenian Church, the President and Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School of Cambridge, The Very Rev. Katherine Hancock Ragsdale, the Rev. Laura Everett, Executive Director, Massachusetts Council of Churches, and Brian Corr, executive director, Cambridge Peace Commission. A commemorative booklet, prepared by the committee and office staff, was placed at every table setting, as well as a commemorative ornament gifted by the family. The program began with the voices of Holy Trinity’s ACYOA Seniors and Juniors filling the Charles and Nevart Talanian Cultural Hall with the National Anthems of the United States and Armenia, accompanied on the piano by Nune Hakobyan, and trumpet by Dan Teager.

Welcome remarks were offered by the chairman of the Parish Council, Gregory A. Kolligian, Jr., who expressed his joy of working with Kouzouian for the parish. “On behalf of the entire Holy Trinity parish, I want to congratulate Der Vasken on the 20th Anniversary of his ordination. Today not only gives us the opportunity to celebrate this milestone, but it also affords us the occasion to celebrate all the wonderful ways Der Vasken has affected our lives and the lives of our families.” James M. Kalustian, chairman of the Diocesan Council, member of the Supreme Spiritual Council, and deacon of Holy Trinity served as master of ceremonies, interspersing personal vignettes and facts throughout the day.

A musical tribute was offered by the honoree’s sister, Joyce Arpie Kouzouian, accompanied at the piano by Nune Hakobyan. A celebratory toast was made by Committee Chairman Lisa Burton, who reflected on the accomplishments of her childhood friend and now pastor on his 20 years of service. Dinner started with the Invocation offered by Aykazian, past president of the National Council of Churches of Christ, member of the Governing Board of the World Council of Churches and president of Christian Churches Together.

Following the dinner, remarks were offered by Aykazian, who also praised the honoree’s wife, Yn. Arpi Kouzouian, for serving on the Governing Board of the National Council of Churches of Christ, USA. This was followed by a tribute made by Antranig Garibian, Esq., longtime friend of Kouzouian and fellow member of the Diocesan Council, who had traveled with his family from Philadelphia to be present at this Celebration. Anna Garabedian, chairman of the St. Mark Armenian Church of Springfield, where Kouzouian had first served as pastor, spoke about their days together and the work that he offered in the parish.

Remarks were made by Kouzouian’s predecessor at Holy Trinity, Fr. Mampre Kouzouian, who presented his son with a silver hand-cross originally gifted to him by his own mother at his ordination, and other liturgical family heir-looms.

A special tribute letter from Archbishop Nourhan Manougian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, was read by the Very Rev. Krikor Maksoudian, praising his efforts and expressing his congratulations to Kouzouian for his leadership and work in the Diocese of the Armenian Church, in Youth Ministry, and in parish life. At the conclusion of the letter, a surprise bejeweled Pectoral Cross, made in Jerusalem, was presented to the honoree with these words: “On this occasion, I send you a Pectoral Cross so that its yoke may bond you to the Patriarchate of the Armenian Church of Jerusalem, and that in a way you become her ‘Ambassador.’ May you be one of the chosen and remain faithful to Sts. James.”