St. Leon (Srbots Ghevontiants) Armenian Cathedral Godfather Mr. Vartan Nazerian was honored during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, May 5, 2019. In the service presided by the Diocesan Primate H.E. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the day’s celebrant priest was the Rev. Fr. Khajag Shahbazyan, the Cathedral’s Pastor.

During the service, the Nazerian family were led in processional from the narthex to the nave where the Pontifical Encyclical of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians was read to the congregation from the Holy Altar by Archpriest Fr. Manoug Markarian. His Holiness referenced to Mr. Nazerian’s dedication and selfless service to the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Western Diocese and the Armenian-American community, thus bestowing the prestigious St. Nersess Shnorhali medal upon the honoree.

In his address to the honoree, the Primate commended Mr. Nazerian’s zealous Christian spirit, loyalty to the Armenian Church and her sacred traditions, as well as his unrelenting dedication to preserving the Armenian Christian identity. “You have been a loyal servant of the Armenian Apostolic Church, exemplifying your Christian spirit through God-pleasing and noble endeavors. We pray that you continue to praise and glorify the Almighty God with humility, wholeheartedness and grace,” said Archbishop Derderian.

Following the service, a banquet in honor of Mr. Nazerian was held in the Nazareth and Sima Kalaydjian Hall of the Western Diocese.