ANRC residents and staff celebrated a special pontifical blessing

JAMAICA PLAIN, Mass.—The Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (ANRC) had the distinct honor of hosting His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. During this most memorable visit, His Holiness shared a special blessing and toured the Jamaica Plain campus, dedicated to providing both short-term and long-term rehabilitative care for elders in the Armenian community. 

His Holiness engaged warmly with residents and staff, bringing joy and laughter throughout his visit. Notably, ANRC was the only rehabilitation center on his busy itinerary, which spans from Antelias, Lebanon, to various locations in the United States. This marks his first visit to the Boston area since 2015. One poignant moment was shared with 110-year-old resident Mary Vartanian, a survivor of the Armenian Genocide. Mary presented His Holiness with a beautifully crocheted keepsake, inscribed in Armenian with the heartfelt message, “Do not forget April 24th,” commemorating the tragic events of 1915. Mary, originally from the village of Antep, moved to Lebanon and later the U.S. with her beloved husband, a talented violinist and composer, and their six children.

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In a touching conclusion to the visit, His Holiness joined the residents for a short mass, during which the group sang the beloved Armenian folk song “Giligia.” The lyrics resonate with longing and hope, celebrating the beauty and rich traditions of the Armenian people: 

When doors of hope are opened wide,
And dreary winter flees away,
Our beauteous Armenia
Beams forth in glad and smiling day;
When swallows to their nests return
And trees put on their leaves so bright
I yearn for my Cilicia,
The land where first I saw the light. 

After blessing the meal prepared by the residents and staff, His Holiness posed for photographs before departing in a stately caravan of black SUVs, leaving behind a community uplifted by his presence and message of hope.

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