The year 2026 marks Archpriest Garabed Kochakian’s fiftieth year of faithful priestly ministry in the Armenian Church and the fiftieth anniversary of his marriage to his wife Yeretzgin Roberta.
Back in May Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, and more than 400 people gathered at St. John Armenian Church in Southfield, MI, to celebrate the double milestone with Fr. Garabed and Yn. Roberta. Fr. Garabed, an alumnus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary (M.Div., ’73), served as pastor at St. John’s for more than seventeen years before his retirement in October 2015. The celebratory banquet brought together family members, friends, parishioners, and clergy from the Armenian and Eastern Orthodox Churches from across the US and beyond, reflecting the countless lives touched by Fr. Garabed’s ministry over five decades.
In a fitting expression of their enduring commitment to the parish they have served and loved, Fr. Garabed and Yn. Roberta generously donated $10 thousand to St. John’s Veterans Building renovation fund.
(Photo: Armenianchurch.us)
A native of Salem, MA, Fr. Garabed studied classical languages at Iona College and went on to earn a Master of Divinity degree from St. Vladimir’s Seminary and St. Nersess Armenian Seminary. He was ordained to the holy priesthood in 1976.
Fr. Garabed began his priestly ministry as an assistant pastor at the Church of Our Saviour in Worcester, MA. He then became the full-time pastor there before going on to serve at St. Mesrob Church of Racine, WI, from 1982 to 1992. Prior to his arrival in Detroit, he served at the Diocesan Center in New York City, where he was the chancellor and ecumenical officer. He also taught at his alma mater, St. Nersess Seminary.
In addition to pastoral ministry, Fr. Garabed is also widely known as an art historian and iconographer. He holds a master’s degree in art history from the University of Wisconsin, with a specialization in Armenian art and architecture. Fr. Garabed serves as the chairman of the Ecclesiastical Arts and Architecture Committee of the Diocese and is often an advisor to new church construction projects. He has painted a number of Armenian illuminations and icons for churches and has authored several books on the Armenian Church and Armenian religious art.
May God grant many years to Archpriest Garabed and Yn. Roberta!
Top Image: Fr. Garabed and Yn. Roberta with His Grace Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan (Photo by Ara Howrani).
