Archpriest Torkom Hagopian, 86, led Boston community for 33 years

by Vincent Lima

Published: Thursday September 10, 2009

Very Rev. Fr. Torkom Hagopian, right, with Dr. Vartan Gregorian, president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and Abp. Oshagan Choloyan, at a celebration of the 20th anniversary of St. Stephen's Armenian Elementary School, 2004. Eastern Prelacy

Watertown, Mass. - Very Rev. Fr. Torkom Hagopian, who served in the Boston community for 33 years as pastor, died on September 3, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan and the Religious and Executive Councils of the Eastern Prelacy announced. He was 86 and lived in Waltham, Mass.

Apb. Choloyan presided over funeral services in Watertown on September 6, joined by Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, the Prelate of Canada, the clergy of the Eastern Prelacy, and the congregation Fr. Hagopian had led. Burial took place at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Mass., the same day.

Fr. Hagopian was pastor emeritus of St. Stephen's Church in Watertown. The Armenian Cultural and Educational Center in Watertown was built on his watch and with his wholehearted support. His desire to have an Armenian day school in his parish came true in 1984, with the establishment of St. Stephen's Armenian Elementary School. The school "was the dream of the community, and he made it possible," said Houry Boyamian, the school principal for the last 21 years, the Boston Globe reported.

The school today is a thriving center of education that consistently receives accolades and high marks from the state of Massachusetts.

"Father Hagopian was a great pastor and Armenian patriot, a man who loved his family, his faith, and his homeland," said former Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II, in a statement.

Mr. Kennedy recalled Fr. Hagopian's efforts on behalf of the people of Armenia during the difficult winter of 1993, when Turkey had began its blockade of Armenia - which continues to this day. "At a time of great difficulty for Armenia,'' Mr. Kennedy said, "he was enormously helpful in organizing relief aid and raising public awareness of the humanitarian crisis. My heart goes out to his family as well as the St. Stephen community that he loved so much. We will all miss him terribly.''

As pastor at St. Steven's, Fr. Hagopian conducted more than 900 weddings and 1,300 christenings, his daughter Sonig Hagopian told the Boston Globe.

Fr. Hagopian was born in Urfa, Turkey. His parents moved with him to Syria when he was 3 months old. In 1953, the family moved to a suburb of Beirut. Ordained a priest in 1956 in Beirut, he was assigned to a parish in northern Syria.

He was sent to the United States in 1960, where he led four communities in upstate New York: St. John the Baptist of Syracuse; Holy Cross of Troy; St. Hagop of Niagara Falls; and the Prelacy community in Binghamton.

In 1962, he was chosen as the pastor of St. Stephen's Church in Watertown. He was elevated to the rank of archpriest in 1976 and retired in 1995, after which he remained an active member of the church and community.

Archpriest Torkom Hagopian is survived by his wife of 55 years, Yeretzgin Zevart (Terterian) Hagopian, and their daughters Dzovig Kanarian, Noushig Hagopian (husband Tim Enright), and Sonig Hagopian (husband Leighton Wolffe), their grandchildren Tamar and Paul Kanarian, Alec, Kyle, and Nairi Enright, and Lenna Wolffe. He is also survived by his brother Hovsep Hagopian of Watertown.

Memorial gifts may be made to Saint Stephen's Armenian Church or Saint Stephen's Armenian Elementary School, 38 Elton Ave., Watertown, MA 02472.