March 15, 2010
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St. Gregory the Great Order Bestowed Upon AGBU Central Board of Directors Member Vahe Gabrache

  • (Left to right) Bedros Terzian, Vahe Jazmadarian, Vahe Gabra
    (Left to right) Bedros Terzian, Vahe Jazmadarian, Vahe Gabrache.

Rome – Vahe Gabrache, member of AGBU's Central Board of Directors and vice president of AGBU Swiss Corporation, was honored as Knight of St. Gregory the Great order by His Holiness Benedict XVI, Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, in recognition of his longtime devoted service to the Catholic Church, as member of the Holy Cross parish of the Armenian Catholic Church in Paris. The award was presented by His Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church, on Sunday, February 28, following mass at the Armenian Catholic Convent.

The Order of St. Gregory the Great, which is named after Pope Gregory XVI who instituted it in 1831, is the second highest medal presently awarded by the Vatican.

A native of Lebanon, France and Switzerland, Mr. Gabrache is the CEO of Cofinor SA, as well as the owner of Société Gabrache SA, a hotel and real estate company. He is also a controller for the Genevese Liberal Party of Pregny-Chambésy. Coming from a long tradition of AGBU benefactors, Mr. Gabrache was one of the founders of the AGBU Swiss Chapter in 1986. For over 20 years, he has been the president of the Armenian Union of Switzerland. Moreover, he presides over various Armenian foundations in Switzerland.

Two other prominent Armenians from France, Bedros Terzian and Vahe Jazmadarian, both of whom are members of the "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund's Board of Trustees, received the same award. The former is chairman of the Fund's French affiliate, while the latter is president of Armenian Business Forum and an Honor Member of AGBU. Starting from his youthful years spent in his birthplace, Cairo, Mr. Jazmadarian became a devoted member of AGBU HMEM-Nubar Athletic Club in Cairo and, later on, treasurer of AGBU District Committee of France.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Italy, Ruben Karapetian, Armenian Catholic bishops and priests were among the distinguished guests from various countries who attended the awards ceremony.

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