“Thanks To Your Support, The Western Prelacy Is Worthy Of The Honor Of Being Known As The Benevolent Prelacy”
H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian
On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at 6:30 PM, an intimate gathering took place at the newly renovated Dikran and Zarouhi Der Ghazarian Hall of the Western Prelacy, with H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the United States, and Western Prelacy donors and benefactors. The gathering was attended by Executive Council members, Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian, Representative of the Religious Council, Western Prelacy donors, benefactors, Ladies Auxiliary representatives, and members of the Western Prelacy staff.
Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian, speaking on behalf of the Religious Council of the Western Prelacy, delivered the opening remarks of the evening. Archpriest Fr. Vassilian welcomed the guests and introduced H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian’s biography, highlighting his rich and extensive experience in religious leadership in Lebanon, Greece, and currently in the Western Prelacy of the United States. During his remarks, Archpriest Fr. Vassilian also shared his personal stories and narratives with H.E. Archbishop Khacherian, emphasizing the Prelate’s unique ability to speak multiple languages, and his deep understanding of diverse cultures while praising the Prelate’s seamless transition from the Middle East to Europe and ultimately to the United States.
Mr. Vahe Hovaguimian, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Western Prelacy, delivered a message on behalf of the Executive Council explaining the reasons behind the delay in organizing this reception for Western Prelacy donors and benefactors following the election of H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian as the new Prelate of the Western Prelacy. Mr. Vahe Hovaguimian cited that one of the reasons for the delay was because H.E. Archbishop Khacherian, was still serving as the Prelate of Athens Armenian Prelacy at the time of his election. As a result, after his election, he had to return to Greece to complete his outstanding duties before fully assuming his new role. Another reason for the delay was the ongoing renovation of the Dikran and Zarouhi Der Ghazarian Hall of the Western Prelacy, which was completed recently. The Executive Council felt it was important to hold this reception with donors and benefactors at the Western Prelacy inside this hall.
After Mr. Hovaguimian’s remarks, Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian invited H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian to convey his message. H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian greeted the audience amid warm applause, and expressed his appreciation to the national benefactors and donors for their support, deeming them as pillars of the Western Prelacy. The Prelate mentioned that the initial and primary stages of his election conclude with this reception. H.E. Archbishop Khacherian explained that following his election as Prelate by delegates of the Western Prelacy, on April 19, 2024, he had duties to fulfill and was obligated to return to Athens. Upon his return to the Western Prelacy, he initiated and completed his first Pastoral visits to local parishes and Prelacy Armenian Schools, and now, with the gathering of donors and benefactors, he considers the process of familiarizing himself with the various groups affiliated with the Western Prelacy complete.
Referencing his Pastoral visits to local parishes, H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian expressed his appreciation to benefactors stating, “Without personally knowing you, wherever I visited, I witnessed and enjoyed firsthand the fingerprints and impact you and others like you have left.” The Prelate praised all benefactors and donors present and absent, while at the same time commending H.E. Archbishop Torkom Donoyan, former Prelate of the Western Prelacy, who with the efforts of the Executive and Religious Councils, inititated the renovation of the Dikran and Zarouhi Der Ghazarian Hall of the Western Prelacy. The Prelate highlighted the presence of pictures of the successive Catholicos of the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia on the right side of the hall, from the first Catholicos to the current Catholicos, His Holiness Aram I, emphasizing that the “collective presence of these pictures in this hall keeps us connected to our roots.” H.E. Archbishop Khacherian further explained that on the left side of the hall, there are same-size portraits of benevolent former Prelates. These portraits serve as a reminder of the “successful endeavors and efforts made during the fifty-one-year history of the Western Prelacy, which you are the historians of, dear benefactors, while we as Prelates are witnesses to the history of the Western Prelacy built upon your generous contributions.” Furthermore, H.E. Archbishop Khacherian shared that the national, religious, and school-building mission of the Western Prelacy continues to thrive thanks to donors and national benefactors. This mission reaches out to global communities with various programs and initiatives, earning the Western Prelacy recognition as the “Charitable Prelacy” of the Holy See of Cilicia.
H.E. Archbishop Khacherian expressed gratitude to all the attendees and the trust they have shown in the Western Prelacy stating, “You placed your trust in successive Prelates, and we, as leading Prelates, over the years, and until today, valued your trust. The trust you placed in us and our loyalty and commitment towards your trust given to us, best complement one another, yielding positive results and new achievements.”
At the conclusion of his remarks, Archbishop Khacherian referencing the words of the renowned philosopher and mathematician Archimedes, saying, “The Western Prelacy is a place where we together, hand in hand, can move the world.”
We want to also share that before the reception, there was a cocktail hour held in the courtyard of the Western Prelacy. This allowed guests the opportunity to take commemorative photos with the Prelate.
