On the evening of Wednesday, March 5, 2025, H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the United States, welcomed the musicians of Armenia’s Komitas State String Quartet at the Western Prelacy. As longtime friends, the quartet members first extended their congratulations to H.E. Archbishop Khacherian on his election as Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the United States. The musicians then shared that their visit to Los Angeles was part of the quartet’s centennial anniversary tour, made possible by an invitation from the HI-AM charitable organization, whose president, Mr. Nshan Adjemian, was also present and personally conveyed his congratulations to H.E. Archbishop Khacherian on his election.
During the meeting, a heartfelt conversation unfolded as H.E. Archbishop Khacherian reflected on his longstanding friendship and memories with the quartet and its musicians. The Prelate recalled the vibrant events organized by Hamazkayin chapter in Thessaloniki, Greece, where the quartet had been invited since the 1990s to perform in Thessaloniki and other cities. Through these concerts and performances, the quartet celebrated Armenian music and honored the legacy of its founder, the great Gomidas Vartabed, delivering unforgettable performances to both Armenian and international audiences.
Expressing his appreciation for the visitors’ warm wishes, H.E. Archbishop Khacherian also reminisced about his final year as Prelate in Lebanon in 2013. The Prelate recalled overseeing the publication of “Our Poets, the Builders of Armenia’s Glory,” a monumental and richly illustrated Arabic-language book released in commemoration of the 98th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and the book presentation, for which the Komitas String Quartet was invited from Armenia to Lebanon. Their visit to Lebanon fostered lasting friendships through regular meetings with the professional violinists, cellists, and the group’s artistic leadership. In light of the quartet’s current visit to the Western Prelacy, H.E. Archbishop Khacherian expressed his joy and appreciation, further enriching the occasion with fascinating stories from the past.
In a spirit of mutual goodwill, both sides wished each other health and success in their respective missions. The Prelate concluded the meeting with his heartfelt fatherly blessings.
Following the meeting, the artists of the Komitas String Quartet were honored guests at a dinner hosted by H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian and the Executive Council of the Western Prelacy.
