History

THE EARLY YEARS AND THE FORMATION OF THE PARISHES

Armenian Catholics have been living in the New York area for many decades before they had an Armenian Catholic bishop in this country. In fact, as early as the year 1896, and upon the order of His Beatitude Stepan-Bedros X Azarian, the first Armenian Catholic priest, in the person of Msgr. Mardiros Megerian, arrived here as pastor of Armenian Catholics of the New York area. Later, the same priest was nominated as Patriarchal Vicar for the USA, an assignment which he faithfully carried out until 1921. Msgr. Megerian was especially instrumental in helping out the survivors of the Armenian Genocide (1915-1921,) who fled to this country.

On August 13, 1921, Msgr. Haroutyoun Maldjian arrived in the USA, succeeding Msgr. Megerian. Msgr. Maldjian diligently worked in this country shepherding the Armenian Catholic community for an amazing 50 years! Even the hard years of the American Great Depression (1929-1933) did not extinguish his zeal and enthusiasm.

Meanwhile various parishes were formed in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1909, Philadelphia, in 1923, Boston, in 1940, Los Angeles, in 1945, Detroit, in 1948, New York, in 1984, Little Falls (formerly in Paterson), in 1991, Glendale, California, in 1999.

Two parishes were successively constituted in Canada: Montréal, Québec, in 1966 and Toronto, Ontario, in 1974.

Currently the Apostolic Exarchate for Armenian Catholics counts approximately 25.000 faithful in the United States of America and 10.000 in Canada. The larger communities are in Los Angeles, California, and Montréal, Canada.

BISHOP NERSESS SETIAN, FIRST EXARCH

On July 3, 1981, upon the recommendation of the Congregation for Eastern Churches and the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate, Pope John Paul II established the Apostolic Exarchate for Armenian Catholics in the USA and Canada, with a pontifical Bull entitled “Divini Pastoris”. The Holy Father appointed Msgr. Nersess Setian, Rector of the Pontifical Armenian College in Rome, as the first bishop of the Exarchate.

His Beatitude Hemayag-Bedros XVII Gedigian ordained Msgr. Setian a bishop on December 5, 1981, in the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, PA. His Excellency was installed as the new Exarch of December 27, 1981.

Bishop Nersess Setian, according to the instructions of the Pontifical Bull cited above, transferred the Exarchate to New York with a Pontifical Mass on Christmas Eve, 1983. The Archdiocese of New York, through the generosity of Cardinal Terence James Cooke (Archbishop of New York 1968-1983,) gave St. Ann’s Shrine (East 12th Street) for the use of Armenian Catholics. Thus, with the moving in of Bishop Setian, the Shrine became a Cathedral.

During his tenure of office, the Armenian Catholic community worked very hard to renovate both the rectory (1984-1990) and the cathedral sanctuary itself (mid-1990’s) spending a considerable amount of resources in the process.

Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, he retired on September 18, 1993. He died on September 9, 2002, in Los Angeles and was buried in Rome.

Bishop Setian proved a very diligent shepherd for his community. He constantly traveled to visit his various parishes in the Exarchate throughout the USA and Canada. As a scholar, he also gave great importance to the written word, publishing a very precious Anthology of the writings of the Fathers of the Armenian Church and the “Eternal Flame”, a periodical of the Armenian Catholic Cathedral.

BISHOP HOVHANNES TERTZAKIAN, SECOND EXARCH

Bishop Nerses Setian was succeeded by Most Rev. Hovhannes Tertzakian, formerly the Abbot General of the Order of the Mekhitarist Fathers of Venice, and later the Rector of St. Ann’s Cathedral.

Bishop Tertzakian was consecrated a bishop by His Beatitude Hovhannes-Bedros XVIII Kasparian in Los Angeles, CA, on April 29, 1995, and was installed as Apostlic Exarch at St. Ann’s in New York on May 7th of the same year. He retired on November 30, 2000. He passed away on January 28, 2002.

During the tenure of Bishop Tertzakian as Rector, the Cathedral of St. Ann underwent a major renovation. During this time as Bishop, the Cathedral had no Rector.

BISHOP MANUEL BATAKIAN, THIRD EXARCH (CURRENTLY EPARCH)

On November 30, 2000, Pope John Paul II appointed Most Reverend Manuel Batakian, then Patriarchal Vicar of Beirut for Armenian Catholics, as the new Apostolic Exarch for North America. Bishop Batakian was installed as the new Exarch on January 20, 2001, at St. Ann’s Cathedral in Manhattan.

Before his installation as Apostolic Exarch, Bishop has been the Patriarchal Vicar for the Institute of the Patriarchal Clergy of Bzommar, from 1978 to 1984. Then he served the Armenian Catholic diocese of Paris as the Rector of the Armenian Catholic Cathedral and Vicar General for the same diocese. In 1990 he was appointed Rector of the Pontifical Armenian College of Rome. In 1995 he was elected as Vicar General of the Patriarchal Diocese of Beirut, Lebanon, and ordained as Bishop on March 12, 1995, in Beirut, Lebanon.

Upon the request of the Synod of Armenian Catholic Bishops, headed by His Beatitude the Catholicos Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX, Pope Benedict XVI , on September 12, 2005, raised the Apostolic Exarchate for Armenian Catholics to Eparchy. Bishop Manuel Batakian became thus the first Eparch, the Eastern Churches’ term for Bishop.

THE RECTORS OF ST. ANN’S CATHEDRAL

In 1971, the Rev. Fr. Krikor Gergerian took over the Armenian Catholic parish of New York, publishing a periodical by the name of “Mer Oughin” (Our Path) creating a parish council, a Ladies’ guild, and a choir. Furthermore, he made sure that Sunday Masses would be celebrated on a regular basis in local Roman Catholic churches.

In 1988, Fr. Gergerian concluded his earthly life, and Msgr. Hovannes Tertzakian of the Mekhitarist Monastic Congregation arrived in New York City as the new Rector of the Cathedral, having the newly ordained Fr. Armen Garabedian as his assistant.

From 2001-2002, Rev. Fr. Nareg Dadourian of the Mekhitarist Congregation held the duty of the Rector of the Cathedral. In 2002, Fr. Dadourian was called back to his monastery in Vienna for another duty within his Congregation.

He was replaced by Rev. Fr. Antoine Noradounghian (2002-2003), a priest of the Patriarchal Order of Bzommar, who later was transferred as assistant to the pastor of St. Gregory Armenian Catholic Church in Glendale, CA, a year later.

As of September 27, 2003, Rev. Fr. Thomas Vartan Garabedian, a diocesan priest of the Exarchate, was named the Rector of St. Ann’s Cathedral. He was transferred to Detroit on September 2005, to replace Rev. Antoine Saroyan, named pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Glendale, California.

Currently, 200 Armenian Catholic families are members of St. Ann’s, although it is estimated that there might be close to 1,000 Armenian Catholic families in the New York area. The goal of the successive Pastors has been to reach out to these families and try to serve their spiritual needs.

After moving to Brooklyn in 2004, the parish has become more lively and many events and activities have been introduced. Those include Mothers’ Day, Summer Camp, cultural and spiritual lectures, Trips, and many other activities. Mostly two organizations are currently very active in parish life: the Parish Council and the Ladies’ Guild.

FROM MANHATTAN TO BROOKLYN

In 2002, Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York, asked the Armenian Catholic community to surrender St. Ann’s Cathedral. After several attempts to save St. Ann’s parish by both Bishop Batakian and the faithful, our community had no choice but to comply. Upon the generosity of the Diocese of Brooklyn, and in the persons of former Bishop Thomas Daily and current Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, as well as the help of Director of Catholic Near East Welfare Association Msgr. Robert Stern , the Church of St. Vincent de Paul in Williamsburg (Brooklyn, NY) was given us for the use of both Exarchate and Parish.. The church took on the name of St. Ann’s Armenian Catholic Cathedral.

The 25th Anniversary of the Armenian Catholic Eparchy in the United States and Canada

Here is the short history of the Armenian Catholic Church in the United States and

Canada, which spans 85 years with eight parishes working independently. In 1981, an

official diocese was established. The first Bishop of the Armenian Catholic Church in the United States and Canada was Bishop Nerses M. Setian. At his Episcopal installation he said, “The goal of the Armenian Catholic Exarchate in United States and Canada is twofold–Spiritual and self-

knowledge, thereby providing the opportunity to our faithful Armenians to learn the language, the Armenian heritage, culture and history to conserve our Armenian identity. Now in the U.S. and Canada, where 75 million Catholics are guided by 450 bishops, the Armenian Catholic Bishop will be part of the U.S. and Canada Synods to defend the rights of all Armenians.”

In 1982, Bishop Nerses Setian visited Philadelphia, Montreal, Toronto, Boston, Detroit, and

Los Angeles to establish contact with pastors and parishioners. This was his first visit during which he intended to study and plan for his mission in the United States and Canada. During his conferences, he preached to his diocesans to be faithful to their Armenian heritage, Christian faith and Armenian language. He insisted that parents make every attempt to provide their children with education at Armenian schools. Bishop Setian’s mission may be summarized as follows:

I -In May 1983, the Consecration of the new Church dedicated to the Our Lady of Nareg in Montreal was held. The newly-appointed Catholicos Patriarch John Peter XVIII Kasparian  presided at this consecration. His Eminence Cardinal Rubini, the President of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches was present. This same year, the Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception opened their first school in Montreal.

2 -In 1984, at the request of His Excellency Bishop Setian, His Eminence Cardinal Manning Archbishop of Los Angeles consented to transfer the property of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs to the Armenian Catholic Exarchate.

3 -In 1985, the Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception opened their first school in Glendale, California.

4 – On May 12, 1991, His Beatitude John Peter XVIII Kasparian Catholicos Patriarch of all

Armenian Catholics of Cilicia consecrated the Armenian Catholic Sacred Heart Church in Little Falls.

In September I993, because of his advanced age of 75, Bishop Nerses M. Setian resigned from his position as the first Exarch of the Armenian Catholic Church  of the United States and  Canada, but continued to manage the exarchate until 1995 when his successor arrived. In 1995, he permanently relocated to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Los Angeles where he resided until his death on September 9, 2002. Bishop Setian is buried in Rome.

On January 6, 1995, His Holiness John Paul II appointed Father Hovannes Tertsakian former

Abbot of the Mekhitarist Fathers as Bishop Exarch to the Armenian Catholics of the United States and Canada. Father Hovannes Tertsakian was already working in New York as pastor of St. Ann’s Church since 1988.

On April 29,1995, Father Hovannes Tertsakian was ordained Bishop by His Beatitude John Peter XVlIl Kasparian, in Glendale at the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church.  During the mandate of His Excellency Bishop Tertsakian (1995-2000), Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church of Boston was consecrated and St. Gregory Armenian Catholic Church of Glendale was built. Bishop Tertsakian renovated the Armenian Catholic Exarchate’s St. Ann’s Cathedral in New York.

On January 3, 2000, Bishop Tertsakian resigned from his position and moved to Boston to

help the pastor of the Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church. On January 28, 2002, Bishop Hovannes Tertsakian died in a car accident and was buried in Venice at the Mekhitarist Convent.

On November 30, 2000, His Holiness John Paul Il appointed Bishop Manuel Batakian the General Vicar of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate in Beirut, Lebanon as Exarch to the United States and Canada. Bishop Batakian took office on January 20, 2001.

His Excellency Bishop Manuel Batakian was General Abbot to the Ardzivian Patriarchal Congregation 1978-1984, then Pastor and Vicar to the Armenian Catholic Exarch in Paris, France. In 1990, he was appointed Rector to the Pontifical Armenian Catholic Seminary College in Rome. On March 12, 1995, he was ordained Bishop and appointed as Patriarchal General Vicar in Beirut.

On January 20, 2001, when he was appointed Bishop Exarch to the United States and Canada for the Armenian Catholics, Bishop Batakian started his mission by first appointing a Pastor to St. Ann’s Church which was deprived of one since 1995.

On March 18, 2001, Bishop Batakian consecrated St. Gregory Armenian Catholic Church of Glendale. Later on March 17, 2002, he inaugurated the Raymond and Annie Kouyoumdjian

parish hall. In 2004, the Exarchate was transferred from Manhattan to Brooklyn. His Excellency Bishop Nicolas Di Marzio offered St. Vincent Roman Catholic Church with its facilities and parish residence to Bishop Batakian as the Armenian Catholic Exarchate’s main residence. Even though the Exarch kept St. Ann’s name as the continuity to the Exarchate its nomination in Manhattan. The new Exarchate center expended its activities in the spiritual, cultural and social arenas. The parish of the Exarchate also had a Parish Council and Ladies Guild.

In response to a request by the Armenian Catholic Synod fathers, His Holiness Pop Benedict XVI

elevated the Exarchate to an Eparchy on September 12,2005.Thus, Bishop Batakian became the first Eparch of the United States and Canada, having with the dedication name of  Our Lady of Nareg.

On September 16, 2007, Bishop Batakian presided over the inauguration of the Mekhitar Sepastatsy statue at Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church in Boston.

The Armenian Catholics in United States and Canada today number 36,000. They have nine parishes, 14  priests, and 10 religious nuns. The Armenian Catholic Eparchy of U.S. and Canada also oversees five schools, four of them in the U.S. and one in Canada, all opened by the Armenian Sisters of Immaculate Conception. Since 1988, the school in Montreal is the independent Armenian School of Our Lady of Nareg having as Principal Reverend Father Paul Kazanjian. A fifth school was established in 1979 by the Mekhitarist Fathers of Vienna. Additionally, a Saturday school was establish in Toronto in 1980.

The Armenian Catholic Diocese of U.S. and Canada has also played a very important role in the

publishing field. From 1915 to 1922 it published an English language magazine to report the criminal and inhuman facts of the Armenian Genocide and to solicit help for the survivors. The author of this magazine was Very Reverend Father Mardiros Meguerian. From 1923 to 1981, when the Armenian Catholic parishes became more organized, many other newspapers, magazines and weekly newsletters were published in U.S. and Canada.

In 1981, when the Armenian Catholic Diocese was officially established, its media became concentrated more in the religious, spiritual, social and cultural matters. Today, the nine parishes regularly publish newspapers and magazines.

The Armenian Catholic Church mission in the United States is expansive. There are many Armenian Catholic parishes without pastors, including the parishes of Fresno, San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago, Washington, Atlanta, Miami, and Indianapolis. Similarly, the Vancouver, Edmonton, Quebec City and Ottawa parishes in Canada are without pastors.

THE ARMENIAN CATHOLIC PARISHES

The Exarchate counts presently nine parishes:

1. St. Ann’s Cathedral, Brooklyn. The rector is the Rev. Antoine Noradounghian.
2. Sacred Heart, Little Falls, New Jersey. The pastor is the Rev. George Kalousieh.
3. St. Mark’s, Philadelphia, PA. The pastor is the Rev. Armenag Bedrossian.
4. Holy Cross, Boston, Massachusetts. The pastor is the Very Rev. Raphael Andonian.
5. St. Vartan, Detroit, Michigan. The pastor is the Rev. Thomas Garabedian.
6. Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Los Angeles, California. The pastor is the Rev. Antoine Panossian.
7. St. Gregory the Illuminator, Glendale, California. The pastor is the Rev. Antoine Saroyan.
8. Notre Dame de Nareg, Montréal, Canada. The pastor is the Very Rev. Georges Zabarian.
9. St. Gregory the Illuminator, Toronto, Canada. The pastor is the Very Rev. Elias Kiredjian.

ARMENIAN CATHOLICS IN OTHER STATES

Armenian Catholic communities exist in other important cities of North America, like San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago, Washington, Atlanta, Miami, Indianapolis, etc, but have not currently organized structures nor their own pastors. The spiritual service of those faithful is provided by the priests ministering in the nearest parishes cited above.

THE PARISH COUNCILS

Each of the parishes has its own Parish Council and various Committees embracing the different fields of community life, like Financial, Educational, Benevolent Committees, Ladies’ Guild, Youth Councils, Choirs, Sunday Schools, etc. as the more important auxiliary organizations of the Parishes.

THE ARMENIAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN NORTH AMERICA

Five schools are fulfilling their educational mission in the jurisdictional territories of the Apostolic Exarchate:

1. Armenian Sisters’ Academy of Boston, in Belmont, Massachusetts, directed by Sr. Geneviève Tavitian. It counts about 150 students for 2004-2005 year.
2. Armenian Sisters’ Academy of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, directed by Sr. Luisa Kassardjian. It counts 188 students for 2004-2005 year.
3. Armenian Sisters’ Academy of Los Angeles, California, directed by Sr. Lucia Hayek. It counts 298 students for 2004-2005 year.
4. Mekhitarist Fathers’ School of Los Angeles, Califfornia, directed by the Rev. Fr. Okosdinos Sekulian. It counts 135 students for 2004-2005 year.
5. Notre-Dame de Nareg School of Montréal, Québec, Canada, directed by the Rev. Fr. Boghos Kazandjian. It counts 239 students for 2004-2005 year.
6. St. Gregory the Illuminator Saturday School of Toronto, directed by Mrs. S. Kheir, has 125 students, who follow a regular educational schedule including Armenian language and history, and religious education.

The total number of students being educated in these schools was 1135 the past year. The academic schedule follows the official program of the American schools and delivers the relative diplomas.

PUBLICATIONS

The Apostolic Exarchate has its annual trilingual official publication, “The Eternal Flame”.

Almost all the Parishes have their parochial bulletins:

1. For New York area: a monthly parochial Bulletin.
2. For Boston: Hay Undanik (The Armenian Family), a three-monthly Bulletin.
3. For Philadelphia: a monthly parish Bulletin.
4. For Detroit: Labder (the Lamp), a bi-monthly parish Bulletin.
5. For Los Angeles area: Verelk (the Ascent), an annual parish Bulletin.
6. For Toronto: Lraper (the Messenger), a three-monthly parish Bulletin.
7. For Montréal: a monthly parish Bulletin, and Deghegadou (the Reporter), a three-monthly publication of the Armenian Catholic Union.

A trilingual richly illustrated color Calendar is published annually by the Eparchy and sent to all Armenian Catholic families in United States and Canada.