Archpriest Nareg Shrikian Passes Away

 

Archpriest Father Nareg Shrikian

Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, members of the clergy, and the Religious and Executive Councils are mourning the death of Archpriest Father Nareg Shrikian, who passed away on Sept. 12.

Father Nareg was born in 1926, in Musa Ler. He enrolled at the Seminary of the Holy See of Cilicia in Lebanon in the early 1950s and was ordained to the priesthood in 1955. Fr. Nareg’s first pastoral mission was in Anjar, Lebanon, where he was instrumental in the construction of St. Boghos church as parish pastor, and the expansion of the Haratch Armenian School as principal.

In 1963 he relocated to the United States, where he subsequently served as parish pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in San Francisco, Holy Martyrs Church in Encino, St. Garabed Church in Hollywood, Armenian Apostolic Church of Orange County (later Forty Martyrs), Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello, and St. Mary’s Church in Glendale. Fr. Nareg also served on the Prelacy Religious Council for decades as member and chairman.

He played a large part in the construction and expansion of a number of churches and schools, and alongside his pastoral duties was also an educator. Furthermore, he was a gracious benefactor, contributing financially to the advancement of the See of Cilicia Seminary and Armenian schools, as an expression of gratitude for the role of those institutions in Armenian national life. Fr. Nareg served with unwavering faith and devotion, earning the love and respect of his flock.

Extreme Unction will take place during funeral mass on Sept. 18, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary’s Church in Glendale, followed by interment at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills.

The prelate, clergy, councils, and faithful of the Western Prelacy expressed their condolences to Fr. Nareg’s children, Tsolag, Nektar, Salpi, and Nairy, sister Sossy Bidanian, and their families.

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1 Comment

  1. My name is Ohanes H Karimian. Back in 1974 I was 13 years old and one of 12 alter boys when Der.Nareg was the priest at Surp. Garabed church in Hollywood. He was a strict but yet kind priest. His congregation were Armenian’s from different parts of the world, and I remember him saying.Respect one and another, we are all the same blood. I will miss him. My deepest condolences to his family.

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