The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-24
Bishop Of Ar
.nlenians Here.
.ACORDIAL WELCOME
Head Of the Church Greeted
By Local Colony.

Amid the enthusiastic greetings of
400 Of his fellow-countrymen, the Rt.
Rev H. Sarajian, bishop of the Ar
menian national church of America for
the American diocese, alighted from
the Norwich boat train at the Union
depot, at 8 o'clock yesterday morning,
and fully approaching the warmth Of
the reception from his own people on
the bright Sabbath morning of his re-
turn to people whom he had led in the
Christian walk many years before,
Bishop Sarajian bowed his acknowledge
ments with an affable smile sweeping
over his ecclesiastical face.
The Armenian divine was nearly car
rled on the shoulders of his former
parishioners, and after the first impul-
sive greetings We're over, Bishop Sara
Jan was escorted to the carriage that
was awaiting him. There We're 40 car
riages in line and the august process
sion wended its way slowly to the
Church of Our Savior, on Laurel street.
In the carriage with him were Rev.
Vaghinag " G. Sisakian, rector of the
Armenian church of Providence, and
Mashitz Papajian.
There the bishop rested until the time
OF the regular morning service, at
1890 O'Clock, when he addressed his
people for the first time in many years,
from the pulpit that he was the first to
occupy. He spoke in his native tongue,
and the church was crowded to the
doors, so great was the interest to see
the head of the American branch of the
Armenian church.
In opening he told the congregation
of the great pleasure it gave him to
return to Worcester. where he had built
the first and now the only national
Armenian church in the United States.
He gave a brief outline of his experi-
ences during the past four years since
he left Worcester
He then read the encyelical from his
holiness the head of the Armenian
church, in which he advised all Ar
menians to. be Christian men and to
lead upright and honest lives. Good
character was essential to their being
accepted in this country of their adop-
ton. All Armenians were eXh0rted to
become good American citizens, and
show by their works that they were
fully worthy of the rights and privi-
leges of American citizenship. If the
Armenian is a good citizen he will sbe
appreciated here, but. said the bishop,
if we are not good citizens, they will
not have US.
Bishop Sarajian told the people in
conclusion of his great joy to be again
in the old familiar pulpit, and he hoped
that the teachings as sent forth from
it would make them Better citizens,
better Christians and more faithful to
the memory of the national home and
truer to the suffrages of the new coun-
try of their adoption. Bishop Sarajian
also announced with great satisfaction
the progress he made in the collection
of money for the cancellation of the
church debt.
During the afternoon Bishop Saraiian
was seen for few minutes, and talked
in a highly entertaining manner of his
life and work Born in Constantine
pie, Feb. 14th, 1852, ne has had q varied
career. He was fitted for The priest
hood at the University at Jerusalem,
beginning his first pastorate in 1875.
He had churches in many cities and
towns of Armenia, al Meesch and else
where. He remained in Europe until
1889 when Majerdich head of the Ar
menian Church, with the papal seat at
Ethmajian, in the Russian Caucasus,
ordered him to work among the Ar
menians of America, he being the first
priest sent to this country He was in
New York some time and began his
duties in Worcester in the year 1889
go
AS Worcester then, as now contained
one of the largest and most ficarishing
colonies in the country, he set to WORK
with interchangeable zeal among his peo-
pie here, and built the present Armen>
ian Church on Laurel street. In 1884 he
was called back to AsiaMinor, and was
given charge of the Armenian residents
at Tabriz, state of Adyrbiy in Persia,
where he remained three years. so
eminently successful was he there and
such popularity did he acquire that the
shah conferred upon him the order OF
the sun and Lion Bishop Sarajian be-
ing the first to receive this honor from
the Persian ruler. July LIST OF me pres
ent year he was appointed plshop OF
The Armenian Church for the dlocese Oh
America, which neeessitated his return
TO this country.
Bishop Sarajian has q good command
of the English language, but does not
sneak il fluently, however. In French
he is perfectly at home, ana is great
admirer of that tongue, which is spoken
nv all the Armenian prelates. Blshop
Saraiian said that he had not Yet de-
cided whether to make his G'heial resi-
dence in Worcester or elsewhere, the
question to be settled later at union
Conference of the Armenians of tins
Country. which is to be held IN the near
future. -, ~
In the meantime he will visit all the
Armenian colonies in this country TO
secure the organization of established
churches among them. The lal &c Ar
,nenian centres are New York, Chicago,
providence, Boston and San Francisco.
Notwithstanding that there are 10000
Arynenians in this country there is only
one national church, and that in Wor>
cester. e,a,oa;.,,.
had a pleasant conference with Bishop
He. G. Potter of the Episcopal
Cbnrch who is to allow the Armen-
JAMS according TO the privilege eX7
tanded in the past, TO hold high mass IN
tha Tniscopal churches. For TINS rea-
con IS due the absence of churches o.
+ba national faith. Bishop SaraJ an
Iii endeayor to build churches IN the
,lanes named, and otherwise extend the
1,torl, among the Armenians, The Dlsn
~ eaid that there would be more priests
~ his country. Now there are Two
classes the archimandrites, sueh as
Epav Mr. Mashdetz, who has mao
aharoe Of the Worcester church, VINO
sre Unmarried. and the regular priests
no are married. The bishop speaks
ancouragingly of the progress OF ms
oon,trvnaen here, and is great al
,,oirar Of America. The next few Weeks
~ viii spend in travel, until ms oIllcia
scot is settled. Next week ne VISITS
I,.nr,idence and Boston later he Is
noyv guest at the Bay State, Where ne
LII remain during the present week.
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AN EXCHANGE STREET RAID
oalcers Burbank and Brown arrested