On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, an official banquet was held in the hall of the Holy Trinity Church of Fresno in honor of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. The event was attended by clergy, community leaders, and faithful parishioners. Addresses were delivered by His Eminence Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian, Prelate of the Western United States; V. Rev. Fr. Ashod Khatcahdourian, the church’s spiritual pastor; and David Sarabian, the chair of the board of trustees.
Archbishop Kegham warmly welcomed His Holiness to Fresno, expressing the community’s gratitude for his paternal care and his continued spiritual guidance. In his address, His Holiness emphasized the inseparable bond between Church and community, noting that “the Church and the community are not separate realities; they form one whole.” He commended the Fresno community for its faithfulness and vitality, stressing that the strength of a community lies not in its size or wealth, but in its devotion to the Church and its values. His Holiness highlighted the importance of spiritual renewal through Christian education, Bible study, Sunday schools, and pastoral service, urging the faithful to live by biblical values and the moral traditions of the Armenian Church.
At the conclusion of the banquet, His Holiness bestowed the “Cilician Knight” Order of the Catholicosate upon community members Alice Gyureghian, Bill Sahadjian, and Marvin Kaprielian in recognition of their years of dedicated service. He also paid tribute to the late benefactor Vahan Chamlian and honored his widow, Anoush Chamlian, for the family’s lasting contributions to the Armenian people.
The evening concluded with the singing of the “Cilicia” anthem.
