The 150th Anniversary of the birth of Komitas Vartabed has been celebrated with a series of concerts in several European cities, presented by the Deacon’s Choir of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the same seminary where Komitas had studied, taught and formed a choir, and later became the Father of Armenian Music.

Considered Armenia’s foremost composer, ethnologist and musicologist, Father Komitas elevated the study of traditional Armenian music to an academic level, subsequently enlightening and inspiring an entire generation of gifted students of Armenian music. His regular travels to remote villages also helped to preserve thousands of traditional songs and melodies that were pure and devoid of foreign influence.

The concerts – with the blessings of His Hoiliness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians and under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Pontifical Legate of Western Europe and Representative of the Armenian Church to the Holy See, included religious songs, hymns from the Divine Liturgy, and various popular folk melodies.

Taking part in the choir’s performances were fifteen deacons, graduates of the Gevorkian Seminary in Holy Etchmiadzin, led by Maestro Shahe Keshishian. They received very warm welcomes and great appreciation in seven different cities in Europe where they performed in front of the mostly non-Armenian (European) audiences. Most of the concerts took place in Catholic cathedrals or basilicas with the cooperation of the Catholic cardinals, archbishop or bishops.     View the video of the Bruxells concert 🎬

Performances were given in Amsterdam’s historic Holy Spirit Armenian Apostolic Church, Saint Gregory Illuminator Armenian Church in Almelo/Netherlands, The Basilica of Saint Servatius in Maastricht/Netherlands, The Cathedral of Saints Michel and Gudule in Brussels, Eglise Saint-Charles Borromée in Antwerp/Belgium, Basilica di Santo Stefano Maggiore in Milan, and in Rome’s famous Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere. The concert in Rome took place with the participation of the Armenian Embassies to Italy and the Holy See and under the patronage of Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Council for Promoting Christian Unity and Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.

“Throughout 2019 in Armenia, and all over the world the 150th anniversary of Komitas Vartabed is being celebrated through concerts and other activities. The performances of the Deacon’s choir from Holy Etchmiadzin have been very significant. These fifteen Deacons are graduates of the same seminary where Komitas studied, graduated and taught. These concerts in different European cities have become a wonderful sign of the close relationship and cooperation between the Catholic Church, other Christian denominations, and the Armenian Apostolic Church. I am grateful to His Holiness our Vehapar for giving his blessings to the Deacon’s Choir to perform in all of these European cities” said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian.