“This time around, saying ‘Thank you’ just doesn’t convey enough,” states Fr. Vasken A. Kouzouian, pastor of Holy Trinity Armenian Church.
The Pastor and Parish Council of Holy Trinity Armenian Church are pleased to announce that Nancy Kasarjian and Carol Krikorian will be honored on Sunday, October 28, as “Parishioners of the Year,” at the 57th Anniversary Celebration of the Consecration of Holy Trinity Church on Brattle Street. Both Nancy and Carol will be retiring after 30 years each of dedicated service to the Holy Trinity parish. The afternoon’s program and catered Reception will be held following Church Services, in the Charles and Nevart Talanian Cultural Hall of the church complex at 145 Brattle Street.
The morning will begin with the Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m., celebrated by Fr. Vasken A. Kouzouian who will offer special prayers for the departed souls of the faithful who worked and built Holy Trinity Church at its present site in Cambridge.
Tribute from Fr. Vasken A. Kouzouian
“This time around, saying ‘Thank you’ just doesn’t convey enough,” states Fr. Vasken. “How do you thank two people who individually and collectively have shown limitless devotion to their church, so much so, that their home lives and their professional lives, have blended into one over time? The Holy Trinity Armenian Church has been blessed for 30 years by the dedication of Nancy Kasarjian and Carol Krikorian. These two selfless parishioners have been integral and key members of our church staff. Their footprints can be found in all corners of parish life. Both Nancy and Carol are among the most unwavering fibers of parish life here in Cambridge. We, as a parish, have benefited from their work-ethnic, sense of duty, and caring hearts since the late 1980’s. They have led by their professional example and moved our church office forward with Faith, Hope, and Love as their guiding beacon. On their retirement from our office staff, our parish will place upon them an honor long over-due, that of ‘Parishioners of the Year.’ Bestowing this honor upon them together is most befitting – as it was together that they accomplished so much over the years. Side-by-side they worked together, they innovated, they created and they shaped the Holy Trinity office into a place that made us all proud to call our own. I look forward to all our parishioners and friends joining us on Sunday, October 28, for a befitting reception in their honor. I hope you join me in thanking them for their devotion to all of us as a parish.”
Nancy Kasarjian
Almost 29 years ago, Nancy Kasarjian assumed the role of Executive Director which was a newly created position by the Parish Council. At the time, the Parish Council needed someone to assist with property management, church rentals, maintenance and managing the growing office staff in addition to the many church events such as banquets, bazaars, festivals, receptions and other special occasions. Nancy had just completed six years on the Parish Council including three years as Chairman. The move to Executive Director seemed like a natural progression. During her almost three decades as Executive Director, Nancy provided guidance, support, encouragement and mentoring as she tirelessly carried out her parish responsibilities.
In 2016, Nancy was very proud to have been elected as a Diocesan Delegate. She co-chaired, with her niece Janice Dorian, the annual Diocesan Assembly that Holy Trinity Church hosted in 2011.
The Armenian Church has always been a natural part of Nancy’s life. She was raised in St. Mary’s Armenian Church in Irvington, NJ (presently in Livingston, NJ) where she first met Fr. Mampre A. Kouzouian who became pastor of St. Mary’s. In 1960, Nancy moved to Boston and married Dr. Parnag Hagop Kasarjian in 1961. Holy Trinity Church was where they raised their children, Steven, Arlene and Linda.
Under Fr. Mampre’s tutelage, Nancy learned a great deal about the Armenian Church and it was Fr. Mampre who gave her the confidence and encouragement to fulfill her role as Executive Director. Fr. Vasken Kouzouian arrived in 2002 bringing with him a new energy and spirit to the Holy Trinity parish, and together new chapters were fulfilled in parish life.
For Nancy, Holy Trinity Church has been her home away from home and the parishioners have always been kind and wonderful to work with. She feels the office and custodial staff are exceptional and they continue to amaze her.
Nancy is deeply grateful to her husband, Jack, for his patience and willingness to endure; to her son, Steven; daughters Arlene and her husband Dean, and Linda and her partner, Renard; and her grandchildren Ani, Aram and Sona.
Nancy is looking forward to retirement after almost 3 decades, but is forever grateful for the opportunity to serve her Church in a meaningful way.
Carol Krikorian
In July 1988, when Carol Krikorian agreed to “temporarily help out” when the church secretary, the late Rose Mamishian, was going on an extended vacation, little did she realize that would extend to 30 years. Realizing the enormous workload and when the December 1988 earthquake in Armenia struck, Carol knew she couldn’t leave. Once on board, she never looked back even though her commute time from and to her home in Southborough grew to over an hour. She has served as Secretary to the Pastor for both Fr. Mampre A. Kouzouian until 2002, and then for Fr. Vasken A. Kouzouian from 2002 to the present. She has been responsible for the Church publication, Dajar, the weekly Sunday Bulletin, invitations, programs, booklets, flyers and personalized thank you’s for the Gregory Hintlian Memorial Golf Tournament, the Trinity Christmas Bazaar, the Erevan Choral Society as well as for all major fundraising events. Carol states that she is proud to have been the first to have a computer in the office, starting out working on the MS-DOS system; no Windows, no mouse, all keyboard and self-taught.
Carol has been a parishioner of Holy Trinity since 1965, when she married Gregory Krikorian, deacon and Diocesan delegate of the Church and himself a “Parishioner of the Year” having been honored in 2013. She is a faithful, devoted attendee of Church Services every Sunday. Carol served on the committee for the recent celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Fr. Mampre A. Kouzouian’s Ordination to the Priesthood, as well as the committee for his 40th Anniversary in 1998. Other notable committees included the 2011 Diocesan Assembly hosted by Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Holy Trinity’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations in 2011-2012, and the 2014 committee to celebrate Fr. Vasken Kouzouian’s 20th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood. She served in the Sunday School for 28 years, 13 as a teacher and 15 as a substitute. Over the decades, she has been a constant volunteer at the Trinity Family Festival and Trinity Christmas Bazaar.
Carol was born and grew up in Woonsocket, RI; she is the daughter of the late Rinaldo and Nevia Pierannunzi and sister of Anthony Pierannunzi and his wife, Marcia. Carol and Dn. Gregory met at the U.S. Army Laboratories where they both worked. They have two children, Lisa and her husband, Scott Wentzell of N. Yarmouth Maine, and Gregory and his wife Lisa Krikorian of Westwood MA, and five grandchildren, Scotty Wentzell and Ella, Luke, Ruby and Blake Krikorian.
You Are Cordially Invited
The Pastor and Parish Council of Holy Trinity Armenian Church cordially invite the Greater Boston community to join them on October 28 as they honor and celebrate Nancy Kasarjian and Carol Krikorian upon their retirement. Recognition will be given to outgoing Parish Council members Susan K. Derderian, Stephan Hovnanian, Catherine R. Minassian and Alexandra Tashjian.
Reservations for the Catered Reception
Donation for the catered Reception is $30.00 per person. RSVP deadline is October 19; by advance paid reservation only.
Tickets may be purchased by contacting the Holy Trinity Church Office, 617.354.0632, emailing office@htaac.org, or online.
