Requiem Service Held For Late Khachadourian Choir Members

Earlier this year, the Khachadourian Choir celebrated its 38^th anniversary of establishment. On October 9, 2016 during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, a Requiem Service was held for the repose of the souls of the late members of the Khachadourian Choir as well as the members of the Syrian-Armenian community who perished as a result of the ongoing civil war. 

A Brief History of Khachadourian Choir

From 1977-78, a large number of Armenians from the ancient City of Constantinople moved to the greater Los Angeles area. This vibrant and active segment of the Armenian Community of Los Angeles has most positively and continuously contributed to the betterment of the spiritual, educational, and cultural aspects of the Armenian Community in the cosmopolitan city of Los Angeles.

Khacahdourian Choir is one of the most significant gifts that the vibrant Constantinopolitan Armenians have offered to the Armenian Community of Los Angeles at large. Khachadourian Choir has been the brainchild of Dn. Stepan Gozumyan, Mr. Sarkis Setian and Mr. Yetvant Nizamian. Under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian, the former Primate of the Western Diocese, in 1978, the choir was formed and named after the first Primate of the Western Diocese, the late Archbishop Karekin Khachadourian, who later on became the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople.

In 1980, the Khachadourian Choir moved to St. Sarkis Armenian Church in East Los Angeles, enriching the celebration of Divine Liturgy and other church services under the spiritual leadership of the pastors of the church, Archpriest Fr. Vartan Dulgarian and Archpriest Fr. Nareg Matarian as well as the Parish Councils of the church.

The fond memories of the Divine Liturgy celebrations during the Pontifical Visits of the late Catholicoi Vasken I and Karekin I; the venerable Patriarchs Shnork Kaloustian and Karekin Kazanjian as well as other high ranking clergy, has immensely resonated with and reinforced the choir’s enthusiasm in their God-pleasing service to the Church.

On Sunday, August 23, 1998, on the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the choir, the Khachadourian Choir performed the Divine Liturgy at Holy Etchmiadzin and was favorably received and blessed by the late Catholicos Karekin I.

The Choir performed the liturgical chants during the consecration service of St. Leon (Srbots Ghevontiants) Armenian Cathedral on September 11, 2010 and the Pontifical celebration of the Divine Liturgy by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians on the following day.