SEPTEMBER 8-10, 2023
On the occasion of the 850th anniversary of the death of St. Nerses Shnorhali, the Mekhitarist Congregation has organized celebrations to exalt the memory of the Armenian Patriarch. With the auspices of the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Armenia in Venice, the following events have been organized to mark the jubilee:
On September 8, on the feast of the Birth of the Holy Virgin Mary Mother of God, Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at the church of St. Lazarus. The Saghmosergu Choir, under the direction of conductor Vahe Begoyan, will interpret polyphonic compositions by Komitas Vardapet.
On September 9, at 6:00 pm, a concert will celebrate the rich musical legacy of St. Nerses Shnorhali at the Palladian Church on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, with a talk by the renowned art expert Dr. Mher Navoyan, from Armenia, during the interval.
On September 10, at 5:30 pm, the Patriarch of Venice, Archbishop Francesco Moraglia, will preside over a Vespers service at the Basilica of St. Mark’s, with the Saghmosergu choir interpreting a sample of extraordinary songs composed by Patriarch St. Nerses Shnorhali.
The choir soloists are:
Sargis Minasyan (tenor)
Mikayel Grigoryan (tenor)
Vardan Tumanyan (tenor)
Aren Avetyan (baritone)
Arman Grigoryan (baritone)
Armen Grigoryan (bass)
The artistic director and conductor of the choir is Vahe Begoyan.
We express our deepest gratitude to all our supporters, especially the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia, Gagik Sarukhanyan, Hayk Grigoryan, founder of the “Menk” charitable organization, the Giorgio Cini Foundation, the San Giorgio Maggiore church parish, and its Benedictine congregation, as well as the parish of St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. May God bless them.
