On the morning of Thursday, November 6, 2025, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I visited Fresno’s Ararat Cemetery, one of the most significant Armenian historical landmarks in the United States. Accompanied by his pontifical delegation, His Holiness paid homage to the pioneers of the Armenian diaspora who are laid to rest there.
During the visit, His Holiness presided over a requiem service for the eternal repose of the souls of the Armenian nation’s martyrs and celebrated cultural figures. Among those honored were:
– Soghomon Tehlirian, a national hero known for his act of retribution against Talaat Pasha, the principal architect of the Armenian Genocide.
– Prof. Richard Hovannisian, a pioneering and revered scholar of Armenian history.
– William Saroyan, a world-renowned writer and humanist whose work celebrated the Armenian spirit.
