Herewith, we inform the schedule of the Home Service, the Last Unction Rite and the Interment of Archpriest Fr. Yeghia Hairabedian.
 
KNIGHTS OF VARTAN SERVICE

MONDAY, AUGUST 19 2019, 6PM
St. Paul Armenian Church
3767 N. First St. Fresno, CA 93726
 
HOME SERVICE (DAN GARK)

MONDAY, AUGUST 19 2019, 7PM
St. Paul Armenian Church
3767 N. First St. Fresno, CA 93726
 
LAST UNCTION RITE

TUESDAY, AUGUST 20 2019, 10AM
St. Paul Armenian Church
3767 N. First St. Fresno, CA 93726
 
HIS EMINENCE ABP. HOVNAN DERDERIAN, PRIMATE OF THE WESTERN DIOCESE WILL CELEBRATE THE DIVINE LITURGY AND CONDUCT THE RITE OF THE LAST UNCTION ALONG WITH THE DIOCESAN CLERGY.
 
Following the interment service, a MEMORIAL LUNCHEON will be held in the Berberian Hall of St. Paul Armenian Church.
 
At the request of the family, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church of Fowler or the “RENEWAL IN CHRIST” Fund.

REV. ARCHPRIEST FR. YEGHIA HAIRABEDIAN

Biography

Fr. Yeghia Hairabedian (baptismal name Daniel) was born on April 13, 1953 in Beirut, Lebanon to Rev. Fr. Krikor and Yeretzgin Sarah Hairabedian of blessed memories. He immigrated to the United States with his family in 1959 at the age of six. Fr. Yeghia frequented the Armenian Church since his early childhood along with his beloved sisters. As his father faithfully served our communities on the East Coast, his family joined various parishes of the Eastern Diocese in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and elsewhere. After graduating from South Milwaukee High School, Fr. Yeghia attended the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee for two years. Later, he moved to Los Angeles, California with his family and enrolled at L.I.F.E. Christian College, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Education. After moving to Fresno, California he met and married Roberta Adams of the St. Paul Armenian Church. Fr. Yeghia and Yeretsgin Roberta were blessed with two beautiful children, Rakel Ani and Daniel Russell. In 1985, Fr. Yeghia became a seminary student of Seabury Western Theological Seminary at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. In May of 1988, he graduated with a Master of Theological Studies. Along with the course requirements, Fr. Yeghia studied Classical Armenian at the University of Chicago under Dr. Abraham Terian and received instruction from V. Rev. Fr. Varoujan Dzyrakoon Vartabed Kabarajian, Pastor of St. James Armenian Church of Evanston, Illinois. As a true follower of God, his heart was filled with the divine messages of the Gospel of Christ, our Lord.

On June 19, 1988 at Saints Joachim & Ann Armenian Church of Palos Heights, Illinois, Fr. Yeghia was ordained and consecrated into the Sacred Order of the Priesthood by the Primate of the Eastern Diocese at the time, His Eminence Archbishop Torkom Manoogian (later, Patriarch of Jerusalem). After serving for a short time as a visiting priest in the Mid-West, Fr. Yeghia was assigned assistant pastor to the Armenian Church of Holy Martyrs in Bayside, New York where his father served as the parish priest. After more than two years of service there, in February of 1991, Fr. Yeghia became the pastor of St. Stepanos Armenian Church of Elberon, New Jersey.

In 1992, with God's blessings, he has been assigned as the pastor of St. James Armenian Church of Sacramento, where he served until 2006. Because of his Christian spirit and pastoral leadership, he earned the love and respect of the family of St. James Armenian Church. From 2006 until his final day, Fr. Hairabedian served the faithful community of St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church of Fowler.

In addition to his pastoral service at the parish levels, Fr. Yeghia had served at the Diocesan level as a Sunday School Superintendent, member of the Christian Education Council, Camp Chaplain, an esteemed member of the Diocesan Council, etc.

As a “good and faithful servant” and a “brave shepherd,” Fr. Yeghia remained true and loyal to carrying out the mission of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Through his life’s example, he was amongst the “chosen” in the vineyard of God. His unwavering service rendered to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Armenian Apostolic Church and Christ’s flock will forever remain in our hearts.

In 2018, the faithful community of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church of Fowler celebrated Fr. Yeghia’s 30th anniversary of Ordination and Consecration into the Priesthood with jubilant hearts.

Very much influenced by his beloved father, the late Fr. Krikor, Der Yeghia has published a number of writings relating to the Faith of the Armenian Church through the Renewal in Christ family ministry.

Fr. Yeghia Hairabedian is survived by Yeretsgin Roberta, children Rakel, Daniel and his wife Mikelle. He is also survived by his sisters Claire, Rose, Maral, Ruth and her husband Tony Markarian, and all his nieces and nephews whom Der Yeghia adored.