Venice Honors Catholic Archbishop Levon Zekiyan
VENICE — H.G. Levon Arch. Zekiyan has been nominated as an honorary member of the «Scuola Grande di San Marco», one of the most prestigious historical institutions of Venice.
«Scuola»s or «Schola»s were lay brotherhoods in the Venetian Republic of the Serenissima, and seven of them, because of their importance, bore the qualification «grande» (great). These Scholas worked as cultural, artistic, and artisanal academies and unions. They were at the same time centres of social aid, of charity and of solidarity. Outstanding masters guided the development of entire generations of artists and cultural operators in those schools. Each Schola had its own statutes, while at the same time, they promoted the religious and spiritual life of their members as unions. Actually, these Scholas forged the great Venetian art and culture at an astounding worldly level.
On the evening of Saturday, 31st of January, the title of Honorary member of the «Scuola Grande di San Marco» was bestowed on H.G. Levon Arch. Zekiyan, during a special ceremony, by the «Guardian grando» (the Great Guardian) of the Schola, Dr. Mario Po’. The rite was attended by a great number of members of the Schola and of friends of Arch. Zekiyan, who filled the church of San Lazzaro dei Mendicanti, the church of the Brotherhood. H.G. Levon Zekiyan celebrated the solemn Mass with the participation of the monks of the Island of San Lazzaro in the Venice Lagoon, the Headquarters of the Mekhitarist Congregation. The Liturgy was accompanied by a Choir led by M° Justine Rappaccioli, the first woman in seven hundred years, to act as «Maestro sostituto» of the Choir of Saint Mark’s Basilica.
H.G. Zekiyan in his homily put in evidence the centuries-long ties between Venice and the Armenians at all levels of culture and of social life. The exceptional hospitality offered to Abbot Mekhitar and to his Congregation by the Serenissima of Venice was the crowning of this millennial relationship. Mgr. Zekiyan said that he considers the honour conferred on him as granted to Mekhitar’s House and through this House to the Armenian people.
M° Aram Ipekdjian, the well-known dudukist who was specially invited from Vienna for this occasion, played some pieces of duduk at the beginning and in some moments of the Holy Liturgy. He also accompanied with the melody of «Havoon havoon», the masterpiece of St. Gregory of Narek, Doctor universal, while the celebrant read the prayer of the saint addressed to the Holy Spirit, a prayer which is particular to the Mass celebrated by a Bishop.
