Rev. Fr. Kesablyan to Be Honored at Chelmsford Church

CHELMSFORD, Mass.—The parish of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church of Chelmsford will honor Revered Father Khachatur Kesablyan on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of his ordination into the Holy Order of Priesthood. The event will be held on Sun., Oct. 4, with Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), presiding. The day’s events will begin with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, and will be followed by a banquet and program to be held in the Kazanjian Memorial Pavilion.

Rev. Fr. Kesablyan has spent the past nine years in the United States, and began his ministry here as an intern at Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Cambridge. In 2008, he became pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church where he has diligently served the spiritual needs of the parish. In addition, he has been the visiting pastor for the Armenian Church of Cape Cod since 2009, and just completed his second summer as a co-director of Saint Vartan Camp in Greenville, N.Y. Fr. Khachatur is currently studying for his masters in theological studies at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary in Brookline. He is married to Yeretsgin Anna Kesablyan, and together are blessed with two children, Maria and Narek.

Sts. Vartanantz was built and consecrated in Lowell in 1916, making it one of the first Armenian churches in the United States. After almost 60 years, with an ever-growing parish, a decision was made to seek new facilities. In 1978, Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church was relocated to its current 16-acre property in Chelmsford, where it continues to flourish. Known for its highly ornate sanctuary, the church is architecturally designed after the Cathedral of Ani, underscoring the community’s connection to their Armenian Christian heritage. Currently, the church serves the spiritual needs of some 500 families in eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.

For more information and ticket reservations, contact Patty Kayajanian, the reservations coordinator, by calling (978) 937-9379 or e-mailing pkcookie@comcast.net. Space is limited, and the deadline for reservations is Sun., Sept. 27.