The Diocese
Posted: 03/18/2022
We are profoundly saddened to inform the passing of Dr. Vahram Biricik, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and a revered friend to many. Dr. Biricik entered his eternal rest on March 9th.
Blessed is the memory of the righteous.
Remembering the legacy of Dr. Vahram Biricik, the Diocesan Primate H.E. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian stated "Dr. Biricik was an outstanding pillar of the Western Diocese, whose life was filled with the living Christian Faith and the fruits of the Holy Spirit. He touched the hearts of the faithful through his immense love and dedication for the Armenian Apostolic Church. For decades, his vision inspired generations. Dr. Biricik was an ambassador of Christ who demonstrated his apostleship to the Lord in a multitude of ways. He served the Church at the parish, Diocesan and national ecclesiastical levels. Dr. Biricik will be missed by us all. We pray for his departed soul and ask the Almighty God to reckon him amongst the abode of the heavenly saints."
To honor the memory of Dr. Vahram Biricik, at the initiative of the Diocesan Primate and the Diocesan Council, an endowment fund in his name will be established.
Dr. Biricik’s concern about the future of the Armenian Church and the salvation of our people in Christ resuscitated and redefined the Stewardship mission, and clergy preparation became a top priority. Dr. Biricik and his wife Polina, spared no detail in their commitment to lay the groundwork for success in clergy education and preparation as qualified spiritual leaders.
Dr. Biricik truly epitomized his Armenian heritage and culture, with his faith and a background steeped in the love of his church. He was a founding Parish Council member and later Parish Council Chairman of St. Mary Armenian Church in Orange County. He devoted increasing amounts of time to the Western Diocese, serving four terms on the Diocesan Council; organizing pontifical Divine Liturgy celebrations of the Catholicoi; and serving as interim Parish Council Chairman of St. John Garabed Church in San Diego.
Dr. Biricik has also had a distinguished career in the aerospace industry following his graduation from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania with a Ph.D. in Applied Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering. In 1971 he accepted a position as a member of the Senior Technical Staff at Northrop Corporation. While he was at Northrop he worked on sensitive and innovative military applications, such as High Energy Lasers and the B2 Stealth Bomber. At the same time, he received his MBA in Product Development from the University of Southern California. His hard work at Northrop was rewarded by a series of promotions, culminating with his appointment in the early ‘90s as Director of Technology for the Electronics and Systems Integrated Division, a division with over two billion in sales and responsible for the development of a number of military applications, including the development of the E2-C Hawkeye aircraft for the Navy and Joint Stars aircraft for the U.S. Air Force.
In recognition of Dr. and Mrs. Biricik’s steadfastness and loyalty to the Armenian Apostolic Church, on September 16, 2018, the Diocesan Primate presented couple the first-ever Srbots Ghevontiants Khach-medals (Sts. Gheovntiants Cross Medal), an honor bestowed upon individual or individuals who display outstanding Christian character and live a true Christian lifestyle.
