The Spirit of Togetherness in Franklin’s City.

Philadelphia, July 2010:  

“Mher, alegendary figure of inspiring powersymbolizing the invincible faith of theArmenian people - the first nation to endorseChristianity” reads the inscription on the22-foot-high Young Meher monument, a giftby the Armenian community to the city ofPhiladelphia on April 24, 1976 on theoccasion of the US Bicentennial.  

The sculptor Khoren Der Harootian (1909-1991),a genius of an artist, has Mher holding thecross up and at the base a panoramic basreliefin bronze depicting major tragic eventsin the history of the Armenian people butthat culminated in their resurrection like thePhoenix from the ashes. 

It was this same survival-against-all-theoddshistory that I witnessed while Ipreached at the Armenian EvangelicalMartyrs’ Congregational Church inHavertown on Sunday, July 4, 2010. Indeed, Rev. Nishan Bakalian’s inspiringleadership has been very instrumental in thelife of the Church. Rev. Bakalian, a Philly,moved with his family to Beirut twice toserve in the institutions of the Union of theArmenian Evangelical Churches in the NearEast. He is back in his home city now withthe zeal and passion to do more within theArmenian Evangelical Church andArmenian community. 

The Armenian Evangelical Church inPhiladelphia was founded in 1907 by Rev.Haig Yardumian. The present building inthe suburb of Havertown was built in 1964.This century-old history of the ArmenianEvangelical Church in Philadelphia is aliving testimony of the community’scommitment to Christ, His Word, and theArmenian nation. 

Philadelphia, with its lush green scenery andthe beautiful Delaware River, is one of themost beautiful cities in the US.The city is especially proud of one of its citizens,Benjamin, Benjamin Franklin, who was one of the Founding Fathers of the US. Franklin, a writer, inventor,diplomat, businessman, musician, scientist, humanist, and civic leader, helped found a new nation and define the American character. 

Rightly, Philadelphia is dubbed as “the city of brotherly love”, as it is home for more than 15,000Armenians. I also sensed this “brotherly love” when I met with the Armenian Apostolic and Catholicclergy at the luncheon organized by the Armenian Evangelical Church on the occasion of theIndependence Day. A spirit of togetherness has been established over the last 50 years where the wholecommunity come together regularly to celebrate Vartanants, Martyrs’ Day, and Tarkmanchats.  

This same spirit is rooted in the daily lives of the community where the five established Armenian churches,Armenian Catholic St. Mark, Armenian Apostolic Sts. Sahag and Mesrob, Holy Trinity, and St. Gregory the Illuminator, and Armenian Congregational Martyrs’, come together regularly for fellowship,consultation, and celebration of cultural, religious, and historical events. 

The Armenian community in Philadelphia is faithful to the historical values of their adopted city with aspirit of togetherness. It is this same spirit that creates a new history with Mher’s enduring power forstruggle, existence, and identity. 

Hrayr Jebejian.

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