Palos Heights Marks 55 Years

On Sunday, November 17, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), visited the Sts. Joachim and Anne Church of Palos Heights, Ill., to mark the parish's 55th anniversary.

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PRESS OFFICE

Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)

630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016

Contact: Chris Zakian 

Tel: (212) 686-0710   

E-mail: chrisz@armeniandiocese.org

Website: www.armenianchurch-ed.net

November 26, 2013

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PALOS HEIGHTS MARKS 55 YEARS

On Sunday, November 17, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), visited the Sts. Joachim and Anne Church of Palos Heights, Ill., to mark the parish's 55th anniversary.

Archbishop Barsamian celebrated the Divine Liturgy and afterwards led a veneration prayer for the "Relic of St. Vartan the Brave," which he had brought from the Diocesan Center in New York. The relic—a gift of His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians—was presented to the Eastern Diocese to honor the 45th anniversary of New York's St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral.

As part of the service, the Primate presented parish pastor the Rev. Fr. Tavit Boyajian with a floral cape in honor of the 20th anniversary of his ordination into the holy priesthood. Archbishop Barsamian congratulated Fr. Boyajian on this milestone.

Later that afternoon, the community gathered for an anniversary banquet at the Hilton hotel in nearby Oak Lawn. Master of ceremonies Rob Koshkarian welcomed guests and introduced the afternoon's program. Sunday School students offered a joyful rendition of the sharagan, Kohanamk ("We give thanks"), in Armenian and English.

The parish presented its "Lay Ministry Award" to community leaders Jack Cholakian and Janna Simonian.

"It is always a joy for me to visit this community," said Archbishop Barsamian. "The foundation of Sts. Joachim and Anne Church was laid long ago, and it is through the hard work and dedicated service of generations of parishioners that this community has grown over the years. Today, it is the task of the new generation to take up the responsibility of continuing this rich legacy in Palos Heights, and I am confident that this parish is blessed with leaders of that caliber."

The Sts. Joachim and Anne Church was first consecrated in West Pullman on November 30, 1958, and was re-consecrated in Palos Heights in 1983. The church serves a community that extends from Chicago's Southwest suburbs to all of Northern Indiana.

Sts. Joachim and Anne's history began in the early l880s when young men, mainly from the Turkish province of Kharpert and its villages of Peri, Mazgerd and Pertad, arrived in West Pullman where they settled and started families. Their numbers grew dramatically after the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

In 1957, a suitable building was bought and renovated to create a church edifice. The first Sts. Joachim and Anne parish sanctuary was consecrated in l958. Soon afterwards, existing property adjacent to the building was purchased, and through the dedication and generosity of its members, all remaining debts were paid. By 1965, it was time to move the parish from what had been a converted storefront sanctuary to a new home that was specifically Armenian in architecture.

The second location of Sts. Joachim and Anne Church was just next door to the first, and had its groundbreaking on May 30, l965. Work on the building was completed in less than a year. On April 17, l966, then Primate Archbishop Sion Manoogian consecrated the church and the hall. The new hall was named after benefactor George Garabedian.

During this period, membership continued to grow with renewed immigration of Armenians from the Middle East. Also, during this era, demographic changes sweeping through Chicago were compelling enough to consider relocation to a suburban site. Accordingly, the West Pullman property was sold in l974. A new building committee was formed to execute plans for yet another church sanctuary, this time in suburban Palos Heights.

During this third phase, the community built the Hovanessian Cultural Hall, named after generous benefactors Dr. and Mrs. Raffy and Vicky Hovanessian. Services were held there until the formal sanctuary was built and consecrated in the spring of l983.

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Photos attached.

Photo 1: Archbishop Barsamian leads a veneration prayer for the "Relic of St. Vartan the Brave."

Photo 2: Sunday School students sing a sharagan.

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