Rev. Varoujan Vartabed Kabaradjian, former pastor of St. James Armenian Church of Evanston, had a long and varied career in the Armenian Church, both in the United States and in Jerusalem.
Born in Istanbul in 1928, he left for Jerusalem at age 19 to study for the priesthood. In 1951 he was ordained a priest at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Chapel at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, said Rev. Nareg Keutelian, a close church associate and friend.
Father Kabaradjian, 76, of Niles, died Friday, April 30, in Holy Family Hospital, Des Plaines. Keutelian said Father Kabaradjian died after a long illness. A funeral home official said the cause of death was cancer.
Father Kabaradjian was a member of St. James Brotherhood and was appointed dean of St. James Seminary in Jerusalem, according to Keutelian.
During that time, Father Kabaradjian also was a pastor to the Armenian community in Jerusalem, dean of the Holy Archangels Monastery in Jerusalem and a visiting pastor to the Armenian community in Amman, Jordan, Keutelian said.
In addition, Father Kabaradjian was an instructor of Armenian language, catechism and Armenian Church history at Holy Archangels and at the Holy Translators Armenian High School of Jerusalem, Keutelian said.
In 1958, the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church in America invited Father Kabaradjian to serve as pastor of St. James Armenian Church in Evanston. He remained there until last year. According to Arnold Koresian, a friend for more than 40 years, he also was a visiting pastor in Chicago, Waukegan, Palos Heights and Racine, Wis.
"I was new in the country, and Father Kabaradjian was in Waukegan, where I was staying, to celebrate the liturgy," Keutelian said. "He kept in touch with me to make sure I attended every Sunday."
Father Kabaradjian was president of the Midwest Regional Council of the Armenian Churches between 1960 and 1968, from 1977 to 1979 and from 1981 until his death, according to Keutelian.
Father Kabaradjian began working with the Evanston Police Department in 1998 as a police chaplain, Keutelian said.
"Father Kabaradjian was very easy to get along with," Keutelian said. "He was remarkable in his 45 years of dedication to the church in Evanston. He was true to his calling his entire life, and he gave without asking."
Father Kabaradjian was a member of the Evanston Interfaith Clergy Association since 1996, and he represented the Armenian Church in ecumenical discussions with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Chicago and the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago.
"He was the most high-ranking clergyman in the Midwest area," said Keutelian. During his years in Evanston, Father Kabaradjian was a member of organizations such as the Evanston Ministerial Association, the Christian Unity Organization, the National Right to Life Association and drug prevention programs in Evanston and elsewhere in the state.
He was honored in March 2001 at Evanston City Hall for his service to the city, Koresian said.
Visitation will be held between 5 and 9 p.m. Friday and mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in St. Athanasius Catholic Church, 1615 Lincoln St., Evanston.
Born in Istanbul in 1928, he left for Jerusalem at age 19 to study for the priesthood. In 1951 he was ordained a priest at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Chapel at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, said Rev. Nareg Keutelian, a close church associate and friend.
Father Kabaradjian, 76, of Niles, died Friday, April 30, in Holy Family Hospital, Des Plaines. Keutelian said Father Kabaradjian died after a long illness. A funeral home official said the cause of death was cancer.
Father Kabaradjian was a member of St. James Brotherhood and was appointed dean of St. James Seminary in Jerusalem, according to Keutelian.
During that time, Father Kabaradjian also was a pastor to the Armenian community in Jerusalem, dean of the Holy Archangels Monastery in Jerusalem and a visiting pastor to the Armenian community in Amman, Jordan, Keutelian said.
In addition, Father Kabaradjian was an instructor of Armenian language, catechism and Armenian Church history at Holy Archangels and at the Holy Translators Armenian High School of Jerusalem, Keutelian said.
In 1958, the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church in America invited Father Kabaradjian to serve as pastor of St. James Armenian Church in Evanston. He remained there until last year. According to Arnold Koresian, a friend for more than 40 years, he also was a visiting pastor in Chicago, Waukegan, Palos Heights and Racine, Wis.
"I was new in the country, and Father Kabaradjian was in Waukegan, where I was staying, to celebrate the liturgy," Keutelian said. "He kept in touch with me to make sure I attended every Sunday."
Father Kabaradjian was president of the Midwest Regional Council of the Armenian Churches between 1960 and 1968, from 1977 to 1979 and from 1981 until his death, according to Keutelian.
Father Kabaradjian began working with the Evanston Police Department in 1998 as a police chaplain, Keutelian said.
"Father Kabaradjian was very easy to get along with," Keutelian said. "He was remarkable in his 45 years of dedication to the church in Evanston. He was true to his calling his entire life, and he gave without asking."
Father Kabaradjian was a member of the Evanston Interfaith Clergy Association since 1996, and he represented the Armenian Church in ecumenical discussions with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Chicago and the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago.
"He was the most high-ranking clergyman in the Midwest area," said Keutelian. During his years in Evanston, Father Kabaradjian was a member of organizations such as the Evanston Ministerial Association, the Christian Unity Organization, the National Right to Life Association and drug prevention programs in Evanston and elsewhere in the state.
He was honored in March 2001 at Evanston City Hall for his service to the city, Koresian said.
Visitation will be held between 5 and 9 p.m. Friday and mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in St. Athanasius Catholic Church, 1615 Lincoln St., Evanston.
Rev. Varoujan Vartabed Kabaradjian, former pastor of St. James Armenian Church of Evanston, had a long and varied career in the Armenian Church, both in the United States and in Jerusalem.
Born in Istanbul in 1928, he left for Jerusalem at age 19 to study for the priesthood. In 1951 he was ordained a priest at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Chapel at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, said Rev. Nareg Keutelian, a close church associate and friend.
Father Kabaradjian, 76, of Niles, died Friday, April 30, in Holy Family Hospital, Des Plaines. Keutelian said Father Kabaradjian died after a long illness. A funeral home official said the cause of death was cancer.
Father Kabaradjian was a member of St. James Brotherhood and was appointed dean of St. James Seminary in Jerusalem, according to Keutelian.
During that time, Father Kabaradjian also was a pastor to the Armenian community in Jerusalem, dean of the Holy Archangels Monastery in Jerusalem and a visiting pastor to the Armenian community in Amman, Jordan, Keutelian said.
In addition, Father Kabaradjian was an instructor of Armenian language, catechism and Armenian Church history at Holy Archangels and at the Holy Translators Armenian High School of Jerusalem, Keutelian said.
In 1958, the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church in America invited Father Kabaradjian to serve as pastor of St. James Armenian Church in Evanston. He remained there until last year. According to Arnold Koresian, a friend for more than 40 years, he also was a visiting pastor in Chicago, Waukegan, Palos Heights and Racine, Wis.
"I was new in the country, and Father Kabaradjian was in Waukegan, where I was staying, to celebrate the liturgy," Keutelian said. "He kept in touch with me to make sure I attended every Sunday."
Father Kabaradjian was president of the Midwest Regional Council of the Armenian Churches between 1960 and 1968, from 1977 to 1979 and from 1981 until his death, according to Keutelian.
Father Kabaradjian began working with the Evanston Police Department in 1998 as a police chaplain, Keutelian said.
"Father Kabaradjian was very easy to get along with," Keutelian said. "He was remarkable in his 45 years of dedication to the church in Evanston. He was true to his calling his entire life, and he gave without asking."
Father Kabaradjian was a member of the Evanston Interfaith Clergy Association since 1996, and he represented the Armenian Church in ecumenical discussions with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Chicago and the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago.
"He was the most high-ranking clergyman in the Midwest area," said Keutelian. During his years in Evanston, Father Kabaradjian was a member of organizations such as the Evanston Ministerial Association, the Christian Unity Organization, the National Right to Life Association and drug prevention programs in Evanston and elsewhere in the state.
He was honored in March 2001 at Evanston City Hall for his service to the city, Koresian said.
Visitation will be held between 5 and 9 p.m. Friday and mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in St. Athanasius Catholic Church, 1615 Lincoln St., Evanston.
Born in Istanbul in 1928, he left for Jerusalem at age 19 to study for the priesthood. In 1951 he was ordained a priest at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Chapel at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, said Rev. Nareg Keutelian, a close church associate and friend.
Father Kabaradjian, 76, of Niles, died Friday, April 30, in Holy Family Hospital, Des Plaines. Keutelian said Father Kabaradjian died after a long illness. A funeral home official said the cause of death was cancer.
Father Kabaradjian was a member of St. James Brotherhood and was appointed dean of St. James Seminary in Jerusalem, according to Keutelian.
During that time, Father Kabaradjian also was a pastor to the Armenian community in Jerusalem, dean of the Holy Archangels Monastery in Jerusalem and a visiting pastor to the Armenian community in Amman, Jordan, Keutelian said.
In addition, Father Kabaradjian was an instructor of Armenian language, catechism and Armenian Church history at Holy Archangels and at the Holy Translators Armenian High School of Jerusalem, Keutelian said.
In 1958, the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church in America invited Father Kabaradjian to serve as pastor of St. James Armenian Church in Evanston. He remained there until last year. According to Arnold Koresian, a friend for more than 40 years, he also was a visiting pastor in Chicago, Waukegan, Palos Heights and Racine, Wis.
"I was new in the country, and Father Kabaradjian was in Waukegan, where I was staying, to celebrate the liturgy," Keutelian said. "He kept in touch with me to make sure I attended every Sunday."
Father Kabaradjian was president of the Midwest Regional Council of the Armenian Churches between 1960 and 1968, from 1977 to 1979 and from 1981 until his death, according to Keutelian.
Father Kabaradjian began working with the Evanston Police Department in 1998 as a police chaplain, Keutelian said.
"Father Kabaradjian was very easy to get along with," Keutelian said. "He was remarkable in his 45 years of dedication to the church in Evanston. He was true to his calling his entire life, and he gave without asking."
Father Kabaradjian was a member of the Evanston Interfaith Clergy Association since 1996, and he represented the Armenian Church in ecumenical discussions with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Chicago and the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago.
"He was the most high-ranking clergyman in the Midwest area," said Keutelian. During his years in Evanston, Father Kabaradjian was a member of organizations such as the Evanston Ministerial Association, the Christian Unity Organization, the National Right to Life Association and drug prevention programs in Evanston and elsewhere in the state.
He was honored in March 2001 at Evanston City Hall for his service to the city, Koresian said.
Visitation will be held between 5 and 9 p.m. Friday and mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in St. Athanasius Catholic Church, 1615 Lincoln St., Evanston.
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