October - November 2002 Edition 

Church Celebrates Father Carnig Hallajan   By Ruth Bedevian It was 1960! It was the beginning of a very revolutionary decade of great social and technological change in America. President Dwight David Eisenhower was serving the final months of his second term of office. The Civil Rights Movement was gaining momentum and Americans were three years away from the devastating commitment of mass troops in Vietnam. At 630 Second Avenue in New York City stood an apartment building where eight years later the golden dome of the St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral would rise to meet the sky! And so it is that in historic and turbulent times, daily living prevails. It was in July of 1960 that Deacon Antranik Hallajian, a deacon-in-charge at St. Leon Armenian Church married Rose Norian of Union City, NJ and was ordained by the Primate of the Armenian Diocese, Archbishop Sion Manoogian (now deceased) in the modest St. Leon Church on Bloomfield Avenue in Paterson, NJ. He was given the name Carnig, in honor of Carnig Zavatjian who had hoped to be his Godfather, but who died before the Ordination Day. The young Father Carnig continued to serve the parish of St. Leon and was a vital part of the parish's construction and its move from Paterson to its present location at 12-61 Saddle River Road. The three-acre parcel of land had been purchased in 1958. The property contained two houses, one of which was converted into the parish house. Construction began in March 1965 and on April 10th the Blessing of the Foundation Stones was held. On September 18 and 19, the Consecration Ceremonies took place. Among the twelve Godfathers were Fair Lawn residents: The late John Harry Nakashian, the late E. George Dabagian, John Nakashian, the late Mihran Noorigian. Born to a modest family in Aleppo, Syria, Father Carnig was imbued with a devotion to his Armenian Christian heritage. His grandmother, Maroom (Mariam) Hallajian placed him in the church choir and then sent him to Jerusalem to study in the St. James Monastery when he was a teenager. In 1948, because of the Arab-Israeli War, he returned to Aleppo. He credits his grandmother for the direction his life took, because she relentlessly urged him to serve his people as a priest. Inspired by her faith and with the loving support of his late wife Rose, he cultivated the St. Leon community. Membership multiplied and church organizations flourished. The Armenian School was reorganized and the Sunday school encompassed children of all ages with the addition of a nursery in the Parish House. At the time of the second anniversary of the consecration of the church, he expressed his prayers: I pray to God to keep you all in good health and give you strength to continue your devoted service to our parish for the progress of our beloved St. Leon's Church, for the preservation of our Armenian heritage and for the everlasting glory of God." In 1972 the Primate, Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, called him to serve the Holy Martyrs Church of Bayside, NY. Having made life-long friendships in his first pastorate, he obediently moved on. The larger parish of Holy Martyrs challenged him and it was during his pastorate that the kindergarten of the Armenian School was converted into a Day School. It was back to New Jersey in 1977 when Father Carnig was assigned to the Holy Cross Church of Union City. During his service there, Holy Cross celebrated its 75th anniversary (1981). Over 800 people attended the Celebration Banquet! (Holy Cross is the oldest Armenian Church in America in its original building and is on the registry of National Historic Landmarks.) Bringing years of experience to Holy Cross, Father Carnig was able to implement many necessary changes; the refurbishing of the church annex, parish house and Sunday School facilities, - new office equipment to keep up with the growing technology of the 80s, and the publishing of a weekly Sunday Church bulletin. As Father Carnig was a fundamental part in the building of St. Leon, he was as fundamental in the renewal of the Holy Cross parish life. In 1984 sorrow struck him when his wife succumbed to cancer. He himself suffered from a heart ailment and after a two-year leave of absence, he returned to Holy Cross until 1994, when he retired permanently for health reasons. After 15 years of widowerhood and receiving the blessing of the late Catholicos Karekin I, in August 1999 he married Arpena Tavitian Sbarbaro with whom he now shares his commitments and life. In his retirement he has enjoyed the pursuit of what he sees as his life's mission: "First to preach Christianity and the kingdom of God, and second, to help Armenians to keep their identity." Father Carnig has also served the Diocesan Council, the Board of Directors of St. Nersess Seminary and countless committees in service to the Armenian Church. In August 2000 Catholicos Karekin II presented him with the St. Gregory Medal, the highest honor that is given for exemplary benevolence to the Church and most recently His Holiness gave him the Vartabedagan Lanchakhach, the pectoral cross traditionally given to celibate priests to recognize their devoted service. In so doing, His Holiness symbolized his great appreciation for Father Carnig's unfailing support to the Armenian Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. On Sunday, December 1, the St. Leon parish will honor Father Carnig Hallajian on the occasion of his 42nd year anniversary of ordination to the Holy Orders. Liturgy will commence at 10:30 AM with dinner following at 2 PM in Abajian Hall of the St. Leon Community Center.  For further information, please call the church office at 201-791-2862. Top Photo:  Reverend Father Carnig Hallajian this year.  Bottom Photo:  St. Leon Armenian Church - 1967