The Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America mourns the passing of esteemed Armenian musician, conductor, and composer Khoren Mekanejian who entered his eternal rest in New York on April 30.  He was widely recognized for his invaluable contributions to the sacred music of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

One of Mekanejian’s most enduring accomplishments is the composition of the Khorenian Divine Liturgy, commissioned by His Holiness Vazken I, Catholicos of All Armenians. In addition to the standard versions of Makar Ekmalian and Komitas Vartabed, the Khorenian Divine Liturgy is a monumental addition to the Armenian Church’s rich sacred music tradition.

Mekanejian devoted three years of his life to composing the Khorenian Liturgy, meticulously arranging the choral parts and organ accompaniments for the Divine Liturgy. While rooted in the ancient modes and tonalities of Armenian ecclesiastical chant, Mekanejian’s arrangement introduced rich, polyphonic textures that elevated the emotional and spiritual impact of the liturgy.

In 1984 Catholicos Vazken I issued a pontifical encyclical (Srpatar Kondak) officially approving the Khorenian Divine Liturgy for use in Armenian churches worldwide. This approval ensured its integration into the living tradition of the church.  One of the most loved parts of Mekanejian’s version is the Der Voghormia, which is sung in many parishes around the world on Sundays.

Born in Aleppo, Syria in 1937, Mekanejian moved to Armenia with his family in 1946. He studied at the Gevorkian Theological Seminary in Holy Etchmiadzin (1956-1960) and later at the Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan, where he studied under the direction of renowned conductor Tatoul Altounian. He graduated in 1965 with a degree in choral conducting and music directorship. In 1961 Mekanejian was appointed second conductor of the Armenian State Academic Choir, under the leadership of Hovhannes Chekijian. From the early 1990s, he was the Director of the St. Vartan Cathedral Choir in New York City and taught liturgical music at St. Nersess Seminary.