10/17/2026
To view more photos, click https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD7CK2
On Sunday, October 11th, St. Illuminator's celebrated the Feast of the Holy Translators (Srpots Tarkmanchats) at the Cathedral with a special book fair following the Divine Liturgy, during Fellowship Hour.
The feast commemorates St. Mesrob Mashdots, who created the Armenian alphabet, and other Holy Fathers of the Armenian Apostolic Church – St. Yeghishe, St. Movses the Poet, St. Tavit the Philosopher, St. Krikor of Nareg, and St. Nerses Shnorhali – who, over the centuries, translated the Scriptures and other texts into classical Armenian and established and sustained one of the earliest monastic traditions of translation in the Christian world. The Holy Translators built a solid foundation for the flourishing of Armenian Christianity and the forging of Armenian Christian identity. So important was their work to Christendom that many extant works whose original Greek texts were lost to history are preserved only in their classical Armenian translations. The Feast is one of the most important commemorations of Armenian saints in the Armenian liturgical calendar.
The book fair, a collaboration with the Armenian Prelacy, was organized by Cathedral Trustee Liza Yessaian who also serves as the manager of the Prelacy's bookstore. Liza curated an impressive offering featuring books across a wide variety of topics, including children's literature, religious texts, and history books, along with beautiful Armenian gifts and framed pictures, all meticulously presented.
The afternoon was introduced by Rev. Fr. Vahan Kouyoumdjian, Pastor of Holy Cross Armenian Church of Troy, New York, who served as visiting pastor on Sunday. In his remarks, Der Vahan reflected on the work of the Holy Translators and the importance of keeping their legacy alive with celebrations like the book fair, which he said was a most fitting and appropriate commemoration. He highlighted how St. Mesrob's invention of the Armenian alphabet opened the way to the creation of the Armenian literary treasures we possess today and how, through these written words, the Armenian people have successfully preserved their identity and heritage through centuries of adversity. He said it is the challenge and duty of every generation of Armenians to pass this legacy to the next generation. Just as Der Vahan strongly encouraged the support of Armenian literature in his remarks, his wife, Yn. Maggie Kouyoumdjian, did so by example, by purchasing books at the fair.
Following Der Vahan, Armen Morian, chairman of the Cathedral's board, welcomed Der Vahan and Yn. Maggie Kouyoumjian to the Cathedral before promoting the Cathedral's current and upcoming spiritual and religious programs, including its ongoing Hearing and Reading Scripture program of daily scripture readings via Zoom, the Prelacy's 7-part Bible Study on the First Epistle of John, and an upcoming seminar with noted Orthodox scholar Prof. Vigen Guroian. All of these programs are organized or presented by Archdeacon Shant Kazanjian, Vice Chairman and Archdeacon of the Cathedral and the Director of Christian Education at the Prelacy. Armen also thanked Liza for her efforts at organizing the book fair and those who helped, including Cathedral Trustee Aram Parsehian and Taleen Lakissian.
Liza then thanked the community for their attendance and support. She reminded parishioners that they have a treasure trove of Armenian literary culture right in their backyard at the Prelacy's bookstore and encouraged all to visit and purchase books and gifts like people from other states and countries frequently do, in person, by phone, and by email.
Sunday's book fair drew an impressive attendance, despite the dreary autumn weather. Among the attendees and purchasers were a cohort of young adults, some of whom were new faces at the Cathedral, making for a most auspicious and encouraging reward for celebrating the Holy Translators with a book fair, and a successful afternoon.
The book fair will continue on Sundays at the Cathedral until Christmas, providing a perfect opportunity to purchase meaningful gifts for the upcoming holiday season.
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Կիրակի, 11 Հոկտեմբերին, Սրբոց Թարգմանչաց տօնին առթիւ տեղի ունեցաւ հայ գիրքի եւ նուէրներու ցուցահանդէս-վաճառք՝ Սբ. Լուսաւորիչ Մայր Եկեղեցւոյ կազմակերպութեամբ։ Հիւրաբար պատարագեց Արժպ. Տ. Վահան Քհն. Գույումճեան, որ յաւարտ Սբ. Պատարագի հիւրասիրութեան ընթացքին անդրադարձաւ Մեսրոպ Մաշտոցի եւ թարգմանչաց սերունդի մշակութային սխրանքին մասին, կոչ ուղղելով համայնքին, որ անոնց ժառանգութիւնը պահպանեն ու զարգացնեն։ Յաւարտ Սբ. Պատարագի, հոգաբարձութեան ատենապետ՝ մեթր Արմէն Մորեան շնորհակալութիւն յայտնեց Տէր Հօր, որ յօժարած էր պատարագել հոգեւոր հովիւ՝ Արժպ. Տ. Մեսրոպ Ա. Քհն. Լագիսեանի արձակուրդի միջոցին։ Ան նաեւ շնորհակալութիւն յայտնեց հոգաբարձու եւ Ազգային Առաջնորդարանիս գրախանութի նոր վարիչ տիկ. Լիզա Եսայեանին, որ ցուցահանդէս-վաճառքի գաղափարը յղացած էր։ Հակառակ աննպաստ օդին, մեծաթիւ այցելուներ եկած էին ցուցադրուած գիրքերը տեսնելու եւ գնելու։
