On Sunday, July 3rd, 2011, the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, celebrated the 165th Anniversary of the establishment of the Armenian Evangelical Church in Istanbul in 1846 by thirty-seven men and three women.

The celebratory service took place in the First Armenian Evangelical church, Beirut, Lebanon. Present were Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian and Vartan Ashkarian representing His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and His Beatitude Nereses Bedros XIX, respectively. The capacity audience also included Bourj Hammoud Mayor Antranig Messerlian, representatives of the Armenian Embassy, Armenian political parties and social and cultural organizations.

The service led by Reverends Hrayr Cholakian, Raffi Messerlian, Soghomon Kilaghbian, Hovhannes Sevajian, Paul Haidostian and Vicken Cholakian, was rich with prayers, Bible passages, and hymns. The Armenian Evangelical Armiss choir led by Conductor Garo Avessian also had its remarkable input, including the Lord’s Prayer as composed by Armiss.

The message of this special occasion was delivered by the President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, Rev. Mgrdich Karagoezian, who focused on the quality of life lived by the first evangelicals. “An alert mind, a kind heart, a devoted spirit, those where the virtues of our ancestors who led us by their vision, thus preparing the generations to come”, said Karagoezian.

He emphasized the importance of a life based on faith in Jesus Christ, his example and salvation. “Our culture and heritage might show our origins. However, that would not save us from today’s spiritual and moral constraints and difficulties” he added.

Following the service, an exhibition was held at Haigazian University, featuring Armenian Evangelical publications, photographs, and communion and baptism vessels and church utensils. University President, Rev. Paul Haidostian gave a brief description of the exhibit, noting that few of the exposed utensils were used by the disciples of Rev. Armenag Haigazian, the namesake of the University. He also acknowledged the fact that some of the photographs were obtained from the collection of the late Rev. Manasseh Shnorhokian.