Rev. Fr. Garen was born on February 11, 1925, in Aleppo, Syria. His given name was Sarkis. He attended local Armenian Schools including, Nersessian School,  Zavarian School and Gertasiratz School.

At the age of 13, he entered the Armenian Seminary of Jerusalem and studied there  for six years. In 1944, he returned to Aleppo and taught in the Zavarian Armenian School for one year. From 1945-1947, he studied at the Armenian Theological Seminary of Antelias, Lebanon.

In 1947, Fr. Garen came to the United States upon the invitation of then-Primate, Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan. He studied at the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, MA. He graduated from that school in 1950 and received his Master of Divinity degree. He continued his studies at Harvard Divinity School. The famous Armenian philanthropist, Mr. Alex Manoogian, paid all the expenses of Fr. Garen’s schooling.

Fr. Garen was ordained a deacon in January 1948 and was assigned to to the Lowell Armenian Church as deacon-in-charge. On  December 19, 1948, Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan ordained him to the holy priesthood at St. Vartanantz Church of Lowell, MA. Fr. Garen served as pastor of the church for nine years. In 1964, he was awarded the pectoral cross. 

In September 1957, Fr. Garen became the pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church, where he worked until 1970.

Fr. Garen was elected pastor of St. Peter Church of Troy, NY, in 1970, and came to his new parish in September of that year. Fr. Garen served his third parish for 19 years. He retired from pastoral work in September 1989.

In 1977, Fr. Garen received his floral Pilonium, and in 1984, he was elevated to the rank of Avak Kahana. He served on the Diocesan Council from 1971-1975.

Fr. Garen continued his studies by joining various workshops and seminars and by attending courses at the University of New York at Albany and Siena College in Londonville. He served as a member of the Watervliet Clergy and a member of Capital Area Clergy support groups.

Although retired, Fr. Garen always helped out by filling in as a priest when needed in the Diocese. He served churches in Houston, TX, and Cleveland, OH, as well as mission parishes in Florida.

Fr. Gdanian was an exemplary servant of the Lord and a dedicated son of the Armenian Church. He is survived by Yeretzgin Zabelle, his beloved wife of more than 60 years, and their children Arpy Gdanian Ernest, Kyn Gdanian, and Garyn Ahearn; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.