NEW YORK, NY - For the fifth year in a row, "Christmas at the Cathedral" will take place on Saturday evening, December 16, starting 7:30 p.m. at St. Vartan Cathedral, located on 34th Street and Second Avenue here. This year's concert again will be under the auspices of Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church.

Glorious songs of the festive season will be performed under the baton of Maestro Khoren Mekanejian, choirmaster of the St. Vartan Cathedral Choir. Accompanying on the organ will be the Very Rev. Mamigon Kiledjian. Among the highlights of these annual concerts are the children from the Holy Martyrs Youth Choir, who will participate in several selections.

Featured on the carefully prepared program will be the well-known soloists of the St. Vartan Choir, including Rose Marie Akian, Anoosh Barclay, Anahid Boghossian, Hasmik Meikhanedjian, Maro Partamian, Anahit Zakarian, as well as Vagharshag Ohanian. These singers have all performed extensively in the metropolitan Armenian-American community.

Among the many selections to be presented is a composition by Maestro Konstantin Petrossian, who will accompany his work on the piano. In addition, there will be individual instrumental selections featuring John Maiolo, trumpet; Sami Merdinian, violin; Solange Merdinian, flute; and Michael Nicholas, violoncello. The Merdinian brother and sister are talented scholarship students at the legendary Juilliard School of Music.

"This celebratory occasion during the holiday season is a wonderful opportunity for Armenian families to come together under the dome of St. Vartan Cathedral, and enjoy the beautiful sharagans of the Nativity, as well as the more contemporary Western carols," said the Rev. Father Mardiros Chevian, Dean of St. Vartan Cathedral, who is chairing the organizing committee.

He pointed out that, like every year, the Cathedral will be decorated with garlands of Christmas bunting, including its magnificent Christmas tree in the vestibule filled with ornaments made by children of the Diocesan Sunday Schools. The archway leading to the church will be lined with fresh poinsettias. Outside the cathedral, there will be the brilliantly colored and lighted Nativity scene, a gift of the Diocesan Saturday Armenian Schools.

Following the Christmas concert, a sumptuous reception will be tendered in Kavookjian Hall for all attendees. For more information, and tickets for the concert, readers can call (212) 686-0710, or write to the Diocese of the Armenian Church, 630 Second Ave., New York, NY 10016. - F.A.