Abp. Vicken Aykazian Honored for Half a Century of Service

Bishop Daniel Findikyan’s letter of congratulations was read to the crowd by Odabashian. “Through his intelligence, diligence, spirituality and warm personality, Vicken Srpazan has been a servant of incalculable value to our Diocese, our church, and the Armenian people in general,” wrote the Primate. “A true soldier of our Lord, he provides an edifying example of leadership for us all.”

He went on: “As the Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Director, Vicken Srpazan has worked for decades among the world’s major interfaith and Christian ecumenical groups…. On countless occasions, his influence has been the major force behind worldwide expressions of ecumenical support for Armenian causes, including Genocide recognition, the preservation of Armenian monuments and, most urgently, the statements of solidarity with Armenia and Artsakh that emerged during last year’s bitter war period.”

Gevorgyan offered his reflections on the humble nature of the honoree, relating how Aykazian had chosen to serve as a deacon during a recent badarak at St. Mary Church in Washington, DC, to commemorate in a very personal way the 50th year since his ordination.

He added: “Our Eastern Diocese is fortunate to have someone of his stature represent the Armenian Church in the global faith community for the past generation.”

As a special way to honor the milestone, the Cheltenham parish presented Aykazian with a beautiful oil painting of his own portrait.

Born in Siirt, Turkey, in 1951, he moved to Jerusalem as a young man to study at the city’s Armenian Patriarchate. There he was ordained a deacon in 1968 and a celibate priest in 1971. In 1992, Vasken I, the late Catholicos of All Armenians, ordained him a bishop at Holy Echmiadzin, the Mother See of the worldwide Armenian Church.