Iris PAPAZIAN

It seems hardly possible that ten years have already gone by since the passing of His Holiness Karekin I, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. Wasn't it just yesterday that he was with us, spreading the joy of life and faith and hope that was so much a part of his being?
Karekin Vehapar had a larger than life personality that captured the hearts and minds of everyone. His eloquent speech engaged the listener completely and motivated young and old, Armenian and non-Armenian, scholar and laborer, men and women.
The final year of his Pontificate was largely spent in New York where he was receiving treatment for the cancer that ultimately took his life. Always in discomfort, sometimes in intense pain. His Holiness's thoughts nevertheless were always fixed on the Armenian Church and his flock. Throughout his life every spare moment he had was spent reading or writing. It was no different in New York. He was concerned that his illness was slowing the progress and renewal of the church in Armenia and worldwide. During this time he wrote several messages addressed to the people which were meant to be widely circulated.
In one of his first such messages, or "Pastoral Letters " as he called them, he explained his desire to remain in touch with the people: "I made this decision as a result of the last four months during my illness and weeks of treatment when I had the time to contemplate, to reflect, to meditate, to observe and analyze, and in a way condense my thoughts. I offer these thoughts as a response to our people who have expressed warm love for the Armenian Apostolic Church, for her spiritual center, the Mother Holy See of Etchmiadzin, and because I sense their desire to become better acquainted with their Holy Church on the occasion of the 17th Centenary. I have said on many other occasions that the 17th Centenary Commemoration 's primary goal is for the renewal and reawakening of our Church and the re-Christianization of our people through the teachings of our Lord's Gospel and the traditions of our Holy Apostolic Church. "
Faced with a serious and painful illness, nevertheless, his primary thoughts were of the church and the people.
In January 1999, six months before his death, His Holiness began a journal of daily meditations, which he titled "Life in Communion with God. " The journal was always with him, even during his hospital stays. These meditations would be the very last words he wrote. The journal is yet to be found. I hope and pray that it will be found so that it can become a part of his rightful legacy.
The Karekin I Theological and Armenological Studies Series, which was established by Haig and Elza Didizian, has published thus far nine volumes. Six more volumes are in preparation: three are nearly ready to go to press, with three more in the planning stages.
During Vehapar's Pontificate his closest assistant was Archbishop Karekin Nersissian, who subsequently was elected the 132nd occupant of the throne of St. Gregory the Illuminator. We express our thanks to His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, for his support and blessings and for his efforts to keep the memory of Catholicos Karekin I alive.
We express our thanks to His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, for his support and appreciation of our work, and his contribution of an introductory essay to two of the volumes published. Catholicos Aram was Karekin Vehapar s student and their brotherly association spans more than four decades.
We thank His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church in America (Eastern), for his continued support of the Karekin I series. His Eminence has facilitated the use of photographs from the Diocese's archives, for which we are most grateful.
A very special word of thanks to His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, for his boundless support of this project. His Eminence was Karekin Vehapar s student and received his Episcopal Ordination by his hand. Besides his own personal assistance, especially in theological questions, Archbishop Oshagan has made the Prelacy offices, including staff, available to us.
I am personally indebted to my colleague on this project, Dr. Vazken Ghougassian, who is a font of information about Vehapar s life and work. He prepared the Armenian portions of this volume and assisted in many other ways. He worked closely with Vehapar for more than 18 years. He was Vehapar's assistant in Iran and in New York, and Chancellor of the Holy See ofdlicia when Vehapar was Catholicos ofdlicia.
The final and most profound words of thanks go to Haig and Elza Didizian. They are two of Vehapar's dearest friends. They were with him throughout his illness. They knew how much the written word meant to Vehapar and his desire that his work would be published for the edification of the coming generations. Their financial commitment to this project is great, but what is even greater is their active participation in the completion of the project. They deserve not only my thanks, but the gratitude of all.
I end with words of love and appreciation for Karekin Vehapar, who was an important person and influence in my life and in the lives of my late husband, Pierre, and our son Michael, whose interest, knowledge and scholarship of the Armenian Church can most certainly be traced to the influence of Vartabed, Bishop, and Catholicos Karekin Sarkissian. May his memory shine forth always.

This commemorative book is designed to preserve the events which took place during the pontifical visit of Catholicos Karekin II of the Great House of Cilicia during the months of June, July, and August of 1983.
It was a special and significant visit for our community. This was the first pontifical visit of Karekin II to the Eastern Prelacy churches, the community he served so faithfully prior to his election as Catholicos. It was, in a sense, a homecoming. It gave our community an opportunity to joyfully greet His Holiness, but also it was an opportunity to, finally, say farewell. In May 1977 when he left New York for the elections no one knew for certain whether he would return to his position, or remain in Lebanon to assume higher office.
Karekin Vehapar has touched all of our lives. He is a leader of great vitality and commitment and a person who has developed a deep understanding of mankind in general and his community in particular.
For us, personally, it was particularly satisfying to plan this visit together with the National Steering Committee. Vehapar has played a vital role in our life. It was more than thirty years ago, on a rainy February day, when a young thirteen-year-old student in Beirut went to Antelias to seek out the young Karekin Vartabed and invite him to lecture to the students of the St. Nishan School. He accepted eagerly, lectured eloquently, and left an indelible impression on everyone, and changed the course of my life forever.
It is our hope that this book will be seen as more than a book of photographs. Although photographs are an integral part, this volume is also rich in text, preserving not just visual concepts but words and thoughts and ideas. Through this book we hope our people will be able to share in the entire pontifical journey, rather than just a fleeting moment in an individual community.
We wish to take this opportunity to thank everyone who worked so diligently to make His Holiness' visit successful. We are indebted to the national steering committee, the local committees, and to the clergy and church and community organizations, for their cooperation, their compassion, their charity.
A very special word of thanks to Mrs. Suzanne Hagopian whose generous financial support made this volume possible. Her years of work and sacrifice for the Prelacy and for the Armenian community will long be remembered.
The seeds that Karekin II sowed in the hearts and the minds of the Armenian community as he traveled will mature and grow in the years to come.
We pray that God will grant us the endurance, the commitment, and the capacity to continue His work on earth serving the needs of all humanity.

Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian