NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.—“A small church with a big heart and a tremendous spirit.”
With those words, Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, vicar general of the Eastern Prelacy, presided over the 45th anniversary of St. Gregory Church in North Andover, one of his favorite spots, he’s admitted, on his constant vigil of parishes throughout the region.
To get here, he drove through a snow storm the night before and shrugged off a nasty fall on black ice only the week before.
“God is always with me in my journeys,” he told a faithful audience. “The light pours in from the windows whenever the road is dark.”
Srpazan celebrated Badarak in the morning, joined by pastor Der Stephan Baljian, who has been aboard nearly two years.
The day’s events were highlighted by a special presentation from the Prelacy to Sossy Jeknavorian for her leadership and dedication over the past four decades as a teacher and superintendent of the Armenian School and Sunday School at St. Gregory.
Particular notice was paid to the scores of children who have come under her wing over the years; some have returned to teach here, along with the numerous hantesses that have been staged. One might also mention her service to the Board of Trustees, Ladies’ Guild, Armenian Relief Society, and the Merrimack Valley Genocide Commemorative Committee, which she chairs currently.
“I’ve been blessed by good teachers,” she said of the schools. “We function as a team. The children are taught well by our staff and have rewarded us in many ways, whether it’s with classroom presentations, winning essay contests, visiting Armenia, or becoming role models in our schools.”
All instructors past and present were called to the forefront to be recognized, including elder stateswoman Martha Hannanian, who helped lay the groundwork.
Trustee chairwoman Christine Kourkounian said this year’s observance takes on a deeper meaning with the Armenian Genocide Centennial, which Srpazan reiterated time and again, encouraging the congregation to grow actively involved, both in the community sector and outside, in Washington, D.C. and Times Square.
Trustee Joe Almasian discussed the various programs and activities of the church as master of ceremonies, paying particular note to a video that was produced last year to encourage attendance and membership. A final phase remains on the renovation program, that being a lift and the replacement of a steeple.
Der Stephan praised the children as “the future generation of this church,” commending Jeknavorian and the instructors for their time and energy each Sunday.
“We applaud all those who had a hand in building this church and contributed to its welfare,” he added. “They got this parish off the ground. I cannot imagine such a gargantuan task. They put the foundation in place. We are now the building blocks.”
Tom Vartabedian
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