St. Kevork Armenian Apostolic Church serves the Armenian community in Houston, TX and its surrounding areas. Please use the links to the left to learn more about our Church.

Upcoming Events

• Monday, December 31 - New Year's Eve Party
  with Koko Haitian Band. Hekimian Hall, 8.30 pm, Reserve your tickets early.
• Saturday, January 5 - ARMENIAN CHRISTMAS EVE:
  Reading of Holy Scriptures......6.30 pm
  Christmas Eve Badarak...........7.00 pm
  Christmas Carols (Congregation).8.00 pm
  
• Sunday, January 6 - ARMENIAN CHRISTMAS, Theophany and Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ
  
  Morning Service......................9.30 am
  Christmas Badarak....................10.30 am
  Blessing of the Holy Water...........11.30 am
  Potluck Dinner Sponsored by Armenian School...Noon
  

23 October 2007 - Catholicos of All Armenian Visits His Houston, Texas Flock

Houston, Texas - His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians continued his Pontifical Visit to the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) with a two-day visit to his flock in Houston, Texas on Saturday October 20th and Sunday October 21st.

The Catholicos attended a Youth Gathering and Program hosted by the St. Kevork Armenian School at St. Kevork Armenian Church beginning at 1:00 p.m. Meeting with close to 50 children from the ages of 4 to 14 years old, who recited poems and sang songs for His Holiness, the Catholicos witnessed, first-hand, how the Armenian language and identity is still alive and well 7,000 miles away from Armenia. Listening to his children, the Catholicos and His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), engaged with the children, both shared their joy in hearing the Armenian language thriving amongst another generation of Armenian-Americans. The children shared a meal of kebab with His Holiness and their Primate.

Following his time with the children, His Holiness met with collegians and young professionals during the Young Adult Forum. The Armenian Pontiff and His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian listened intently as young people openly shared their concerns on major issues - including politics, the Armenian Church and the Armenian language. The Catholicos asked many questions and answered even more from the assembled 18-35 year-olds.

That evening, the faithful of St. Kevork Armenian Church welcomed His Holiness during a traditional Hrashapar Service (a thanksgiving service of welcoming). In the presence his flock, civic leaders and 16 ecumenical leaders from churches including the Coptic Orthodox, Episcopal, Greek Orthodox, Orthodox Church of America and Roman Catholic Churches.

A special reception for more than 200 guests took place at the Hekimian Hall following the service. Taking another opportunity to speak with his guests, including the newly elected Cardinal Elect, Bishop Daniel DiNardo of the Roman Catholic Church of Houston, the Catholicos received people individually, personally blessing his flock throughout the event. The reception also gave the Ecumenical guests an opportunity to get acquainted with the Diocesan Legate, Archbishop Vicken Aykazian who will be installed as the President of the National Council of Churches next month.

On Sunday, October 21st, His Holiness celebrated a Pontifical Divine Liturgy at St. Kevork Armenian Church at 10:30 a.m. During liturgy, The Reverend Father Zenob Nalbandian received a lanchakhach (pectoral cross) from His Holiness. Mr. Kirk Hachigian, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cooper Industries, Ltd in Houston, was presented with the St. Gregory the Illuminator Medal and pontifical encyclical (or Guntag in Armenian) by the Catholicos in appreciation for his support of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and St. Kevork Armenian Church of Houston.

A 400-person banquet took place at St. Kevork Armenian Church following the liturgy. The program included a welcoming flag ceremony for His Holiness’ by 3 young Armenian boys, carrying the American, Armenian and Texas flags. The American and Armenian national anthems were then sung by all in attendance.

Pontifical Visit Newsletter

Upcoming events

• December 31: New Years Party

Who was St. Kevork?

Saint Kevork, also known as Saint George, is an early Christian martyr who during the Middle Ages became an ideal of martial valor and selflessness. Nothing of George's life or deeds can be established, but legends about him as a warrior-saint, dating from the 6th century, became popular and increasingly extravagant. The legend repeats the story of his rescuing a Libyan king's daughter from a dragon and then slaying the monster in return for a promise by the king's subjects to be baptized. It is a theme much represented in art, the saint frequently being depicted as a youth wearing a knight's armor with a scarlet cross.