Very Reverend Archpriest Vazken G. Bekiarian

Very Reverend Archpriest Vazken G. Bekiarian, 92, went home to be with the Lord on July 27, 2021.

He was born in Cyprus on May 4, 1929, to survivors of the Armenian Genocide, Garabed and Rosa (Ebrekjian) Bekiarian. At the age of seven, he began serving his church and it was during this time he felt a calling to God. As he aged, he began working as a textile merchant before studying at Terra Santa College and then traveled to Lebanon to study at the Armenian Theological Seminary of Antelias. In 1978 he moved to the United States and was ordained a Priest in New Jersey. He was then transferred to Holy Trinity Church where he has served for 22 years. In his retirement, Fr. Vazken continued his ministry as an Outreach Priest serving other communities in Niagara Falls, Atlanta, Kansas City, North Andover, and Granite City, always traveling by car. His family will always remember his love of Armenian Cognac, singing, playing backgammon but most of all he cherished time spent in the company of family and friends.

He leaves behind his wife of 66 years, Anahid (Boyadjian) Bekiarian; his children, Rosa Tarabelsi and her husband, Joe of Waltham, Alitz Beremian and her husband, Shant of Toronto, Adrine Yaghmourian and her husband, Vasken of Rutland, Tamara Panosian and her husband, Ara of Philadelphia and Garo Bekiarian of Worcester; his grandchildren, Lucien Tarabelsi and his wife, Kristen, Michelle Joniaux and her husband, Danilo, Pierre Tarabelsi and his wife, Victoria, Philip Tarabelsi, Zepiur Thomsian and her husband, Serouj, Ani Yaghmourian, Alin Sarkisian and her husband, Sevag, Hovsep Yaghmourian, Garineh Panosian and her fiancé, Brian McGinly, Aram Panosian and Nayiri Bekiarian; his great grandchildren, Luc, Dominic, Zoe, Talia and Giselle Tarabelsi, Cristian and Natalie Joniaux, Nareg Thomasian, Aram and Arevig Sarkisian; several extended family members and dear friends.

Besides his parents Fr. Vazken was predeceased by his brother, Aram Bekiarian who died in November of 1993 and a niece, Lisa Bekiarian.

Family and friends will celebrate Fr. Vazken's life with a Dan Gark service at 8:00pm on Friday, July 30th at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, 635 Grove St., Worcester. A Devine Liturgy and Funeral Service will be held in church on Saturday, July 31st at 9:30am. Masks preferred at both services. Following services, Fr. Vazken will be laid to rest in Hope Cemetery. In lieu of flowers his family request that donations be made to Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, 635 Grove St., Worcester, MA 01605. Arrangements are in the care of the Callahan, Fay & Caswell Life Celebration Home, 61 Myrtle St., Worcester.