Under the auspices of His Holiness Aram I and organized by the Christian Education Department, a “Sacred Concert” dedicated to the late His Eminence Archbishop Zareh Aznavorian took place on Sunday Evening, March 3^rd, 2019, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias.

“Shnorhali” and children’s “Naregatsi” choirs, led by Rev. Fr. Zaven Najarian, performed songs and hymns composed by the late Archbishop. During the concert, H.G. Bishop Meghrig Parikian introduced two volumes of songbooks prepared by the late Archbishop Zareh entitled “Muscial Heritage” (Yerajshdagan Jarankutyun), and a recent publication entitled “Armenian Spiritual Songs” (Hye Martun Hokevor Yerkaranue) prepared by Bishop Meghrig.       

At the end of the evening, His Holiness Aram I took the stage and expressed his pleasure at being present to the Sacred Concert dedicated to one of the most devoted clergy of the Armenian Church. Talking about the legacy of Bishop Zareh Aznavorian as a priest and as a composer, His Holiness declared him as the second Gomidas, who was an Armenian pioneer of ethonomucisology. The Catholicos also commended the choirs, the conductor and the director of the Christian Education Department for their tireless work, and also Bishop Meghrig for his committed input to the spiritual music.

The concert started with the Lord’s Prayer and was concluded with the “Cilicia” anthem.