Reverend Doctor Gorun Shrikian

Doctor Shrikian was born January 28, 1929 in Yoghoun Oluk, Musa Dagh. He is the son of the Very Rev. Movses and Yeretzgeen Nectar Shrikian of California. His brother, Rev. Nareg, also lives in California. A younger brother, Kourken, is a social researcher in Granite City, Illinois.

He has two married sisters, Soseh Bidanian and Hermine Teshoian.

The academic excellence that was later to characterize his work came early to Dr. Shrikian who admitted that he was always at the head of his class even though he didn't find it necessary to "crack the books like the other kids."

On October 17, 1954, Der Gorun married Arpine Makhoulian, daughter of the late Movses and Azniv Makhoulian. Their marriage was blessed with three children, Ani, Dirouhie and Movses, all of whom received university degrees.

After completing his primary education in Andjar, Lebanon, he next attended the Theological Seminary of Antelias, where he studied from 1943-1945.

Early in his youth he was involved in Armenia's national affairs as a teacher, youth organizer, member of the H.M.E.M. and was the long time Director of the A.Y.F. in Andjar, Lebanon.

On November 11, 1956, he was ordained a priest by. Archbishop Khoren Paroyan, and late Catholicos Khoren I of the Cilician See. He continued his theological education at the Seminary from 1956-1958. During his residency at the Seminary, he also assumed teaching responsibilities.

In 1959, on two different occasions he visited the newly formed Armenian community in Kuwait and established a church congregation there which later became a viable Armenian community in the Middle East.

In October, 1959, he arrived in the United States and assumed the pastorship of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, in Granite City, Illinois. He served this parish faithfully from 1959-1965.

While in Granite City, he pursued his college education at Southern Illinois University from 1960-1964. In 1965, he was awarded the right to wear a pectoral cross (lanchakhatch) for his efficient and dedicated pastoral services.

In 1964, he was admitted to the Concordia Seminary of St. Louis, Missouri, in the Master of Arts, Religious Program. He received his M.A.R. degree in 1967. His extensive research project was "The Biblical Influence on the Formation of the Koran."

In 1965, he was transferred to the St. Sarkis Church in Dearborn, Michigan. Three years later he was admitted to a doctoral program at Concordia Seminary.

In 1974 he received a S.T.M. degree (Masters in Sacred Theology) from the Theological School of Chicago. His thesis was, "The Orders of Baptism. Marriage and Funeral in the Armenian Apostolic Church."

Concordia Seminary, in Exile (now known as Christ Seminary) awarded him his doctoral degree (Th.D) in 1977. His thesis was entitled, "The Armenians Under the Ottoman Empire and the American Mission's Influence on their Intellectual and Social Renaissance."

In 1979, he received the Tight to wear the floral vestment (dzaphegepilon) in appreciation for his many years of devotion and dedication to his Church. In 1980 he received the title of Archpriesthood from Catholicos Karekin II in appreciation of his achievements and services.

During his pastorship in Granite City, IL and Dearborn, MI; Dr. Shrjkian wrote many articles, pamphlets, books and educational materials for the Prelacy's Sunday Schools and Adult Education classes. (See end of article)

He served as Chairman of the Religious Council from 1972-1976. He developed a Sunday School program, grades first through fifth, along with a Religious Educational Committee.

He has also authored several educational materials for the Prelacy, particularly on the Liturgy and Sacraments of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

During his tenure as pastor of the St. Sarkis Church, he enhanced the religious educational program of the Sunday School. He also directed and taught at the A.R.S. Zavarian Saturday Armenian Language School for seven years. He has conducted adult religious education classes, rendered educational lectures to community groups and lectured at several Seminars at the Prelacy level.

He lectured and ably directed the entire Lenten series of programs covering the entire six week Lenten period.

Dr. Shrikian, in conjunction with his various pastoral responsibilities, was the editor and a contributor to The Illuminator. He directed the "Armenian Voice" St. Sarkis Church radio program for a full year. He was the educational director of St. Sarkis parish, president of the Armenian Community Center Mortgage Burning Committee and the Chairman of the Armenian Religious Educational Council of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America.

In the daily routine of most Armenian-American communities, the work of the parish priest is too often taken for granted.

By virtue of his calling, and the subsequent vows he takes to serve his Order, he is, in fact, obliged to serve the people in various and sundry ways.

It must be remembered, however, that a priest is also a mortal being; like the lay persons he serves. He is not possessed of super human powers, nor is he free of the routine trials and tribulations that confront all people.

A priest suffers pain when injured. When exposed to the anguish of his parishioners, like them, he similarly suffers the psychological stresses inherent in their stress situation.

In 1956, while still at the Theological Seminary in Antelias, Dr. Shrikian was "guided into the Priesthood" by the Dean of the Seminary School, the late Catholicos Karekin II, former Prelate of the Armenian Church of America.

It is somewhat ironic, that years earlier, Dr. Shrikian's father, Rev. Movses Shrikian, convinced the late Catholicos to enter religious training in Lebanon.

Although it wasn't Dr. Shrikian's intent to become a priest at the outset, he took the vows of commitment because he realized the precariousness of the Holy See's situation in the late 1950's.

Rev. Dr. Shrikian is a former member of the A.Y.F. and the A.R.F. He tells the story of how he talked his older brother, Nareg, into accompanying him and some of his older brother's friends to an organizational swearing in ceremony. "There were so many people there that I simply moved in to the midst of the group and when the oath was administered, I raised my hand, repeated the words and became a member." Dr. Shrikian was also Director of the 150 member A.Y.F. organization in Andjar. He served as Director for five years.

At a party honoring Dr. Shrikian, Prof. Herbert Mayer, Head of the History Dept. at Concordia, made the following statement: "I don't know if you share more
allegiance to Christ or to the Armenian Nation." Dr. Shrikian quickly replied "Both, because they've both equally suffered."

"The financial situation was such in my youth, that I never expected to continue my higher education, but each time I reached and passed a new educational plateau, I aspired to higher levels."

In reply to the question of his most memorable experience in the Armenian Church, he said, "It was in 1956 when our Church was in trouble. It was like another Sardarabad for me and I knew I had to become a priest to help our Church and Nation."

Dr. Shrikian believes that reconciliation of our two Sees is possible if initial cooperation is evident at the outset. "It will take time - but it is possible."

In describing what he believes the role of the Armenian Church in America should be, he said, "The Armenian Church should be more involved in our Armenian
National Life. Since the people of the United States give great credence to church oriented appeals, it is an opportunity to make known our goals and aspirations. You can more freely discuss the Armenian Nation through the Church, and as the Church benefits, so too will the Armenian Nation benefit."

Finally, when asked if he had any aspirations for the Armenian people, he replied: "I'm not pessimistic about our future, but we shouldn't become impatient if it takes some time to resolve. I'm happy to see the young people being brought back into the main stream of Armenian life and thought. I'd like to see better planned activities, by better qualified people, to really make us go ahead. If this life cycle isn't taken advantage of now, time may find us slipping back into a state of apathy."

Books and Articles Authored by Dr. Shrikian

"The Canon of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony in the Armenian Apostolic Church."
"An Interpretation of the Holy Liturgy or Soorp Badarak of the Armenian Apostolic Church."
"Rules and Procedures of the Armenian Apostolic Church for Celebrant, Deacons, Acolytes and Fan Bearers During the Divine Liturgy." (Published by the Prelacy)
"The Divine Liturgy of the Armenian Apostolic Church" (Transliteration and Translation)
"Basic Rules and Manners in the Armenian Apostolic Church."
"A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament."
"A Brief Introduction to the New Testament."
"Sts. and Feasts Days of the Armenian Church."
"A Manual for Religious Award for Boy Scouts in the Armenian Church."
"The Order of Baptism, Marriage and Funeral of the Armenian Church." (A complete translation from the original text with an introduction and footnotes). S.T.M. Thesis.
"The Influence of the Bible on the Formation Koran." M.A.R. Research Paper.
"Armenians under the Ottoman Empire and the American Mission's Influence on Their Intellectual and Social Renaissance." Th. D Thesis.
"The Order of Peace and The Order of Rest" Lenten Services. (An arrangement and translation from original texts)
Numerous articles, translations and reports, lectures, etc.