HISTORIC GALA BANQUET AT MILWAUKEE’S PFISTER HOTEL CELEBRATES FAITH, SERVICE, AND ARMENIAN HERITAGE

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The crowning jewel of a historic week in Milwaukee was the Gala Banquet held on Friday, May 1, 2026, in the grand Imperial Ballroom of the The Pfister Hotel. The elegant evening brought together clergy, community leaders, and faithful from across the Eastern Diocese for a profound celebration of individuals whose lives and service embody the enduring spirit of the Armenian Church.

During the banquet, the Diocese bestowed its highest lay honors upon three distinguished individuals whose dedication and contributions have left a lasting impact on the Armenian community and beyond.

Ara Cherchian and John Kaishian were named Armenian Church Members of the Year in recognition of their transformative service and unwavering commitment to the Church and Armenian people.

Cherchian was honored for his extraordinary generosity and steadfast support of the renovation of St. Vartan Cathedral, as well as for numerous humanitarian and development initiatives benefiting Armenia.

Kaishian was recognized for his visionary gift of providing his property for more than three decades as the home of Hye Camp — a place where generations of Armenian youth throughout the Midwest have strengthened their faith, identity, and connection to their heritage.

The Diocese also presented the Friend of Armenians Award to Dr. Robin Darling Young of Washington, D.C., a distinguished scholar celebrated for her profound contributions to the study of Classical Armenian and Armenian theology. Through decades of scholarship and research, Dr. Young has helped bring the intellectual and spiritual treasures of Armenian Christianity to the global academic community.

The evening’s atmosphere was enriched by a vibrant cultural program featuring the melodic artistry of qanun performers Lilia and Alexandria Yaralian, accompanied by pianist Dimitri Glarus. Their performance filled the ballroom with music that beautifully reflected the richness of Armenian tradition.

In his remarks, Father Guregh, Pastor of St. John Armenian Church, reflected on the deep roots of the Armenian community in Milwaukee. He recalled the construction of the parish’s first sanctuary in the 1940s and its consecration by Archbishop Karekin Hovsepian, the revered church leader who would later become Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. The historical connection served as a powerful reminder of the enduring strength, faith, and continuity of Armenian life in the Midwest.

As the Assembly drew to a close, His Grace Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate, offered a moving reflection inspired by a recent visit to Milwaukee’s North Point Lighthouse. Noting the lighthouse’s unique position on land rather than at the water’s edge, Bishop Mesrop drew a meaningful parallel to the Assembly’s theme, “Renewed in Hope.”

“The Church,” he reflected, “serves as an inland lighthouse — a steadfast guide that leads the faithful through life’s uncertainties while remaining firmly anchored in the ground of tradition.”

The spirit of the celebration extended beyond the ballroom and into the Milwaukee skyline itself. From 6:00 p.m. on May 1 until 3:00 a.m. the following morning, the iconic Hoan Bridge was illuminated in the red, blue, and orange colors of the Armenian flag.

The breathtaking tribute honored the saints, martyrs, and survivors of the Armenian Genocide while celebrating the resilience and faith that made the gathering possible. Glowing brightly over the city, the bridge stood as a powerful symbol of a community that, much like the lighthouse itself, remains a radiant and unwavering source of hope and light in the world.