There was a buzz in the Museum as we welcomed Catholicos Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia back to our galleries on Oct. 11 to tour our galleries and meet our leadership and staff. His Holiness was warmly greeted by Museum President Michele Kolligian, Vice President Robert Khederian, and Trustees Byron Hartunian and Mark Kolligian.
His Holiness was accompanied by Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian of the Eastern Prelacy, Archbishop Kegham Kacherian of the Western Prelacy, and several esteemed clergy and leaders of the church including Very Rev. Fr. Hrant Tahanian of St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church of Watertown.
They toured the galleries and stopped at several items of interest including the NFL Artsakh Cleats that were donated to the Museum by Michele Kolligian and Robert Khederian to raise awareness about the ethnic cleansing and cultural erasure of Armenians from Artsakh since the war.
On Oct. 13, Catholicos Aram I used the arm reliquary from our collection in the Divine Liturgy at St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown. It is the first time this sacred 18th-19th object was used in an official church service since it was rescued from looting or certain destruction in the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Aghavny Demirjian bequeathed this important work of art and Christian heritage to the Museum in 2008, so it can be shared with the public as a testament to Armenia’s faith and survival.
