“Mother Theresa…Few know that this rare flower of mankind was named Agnesa Boyajian, meaning she was Armenian (she told this to Vazgen I when she came to Armenia after the 1988 earthquake, I heard this from Primate of the Artsakh Diocese, Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan).” Hrachuhi Palanduzyan posted this comment on the Internet.
Hayern Aysor received clarification from His Eminence Pargev, who confirmed the news and said Vazgen I had informed this after his meeting with Mother Theresa. “When Mother Theresa arrived in Armenia after the 1988 Spitak Earthquake, one of her meetings was with Vazgen I. During the meeting, Mother Theresa told the Catholicos about her Armenia descent. Her real last name is Boyajian, her father migrated from Western Armenia to Albania, and her mother is a Christian Albanian. Right after the meeting, Vazgen I, who was not only happy, but also amazed, shared the news with us 20-25 congregates.”
Let us add that the real name of Mother Theresa of Calcutta is Agnes Gonja Boyajiu (Agneze Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in Arabic). In 1931, she willingly accepted a covenant to be a monk, took the name of Theresa at the age of 21 in honor of French nun Theresa (Theresa of Lizie), who is known for her piety and kindness and became one of the saints in 1927.
Mother Theresa received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. The Catholic Church has placed her among the merited. She died in Calcutta on September 5, 1997. She was 87 years old.
