Many talk about the Christian life, Seth Yeghnazar lived it. Many preach about pleasing God, Seth Yeghnazar made Him smile. Many imagine intimacy with God, Seth experienced it. He was a humble man and yet his very presence challenged people to be more dedicated to Christ. Iranian Christians are united in saying that he was up there with the very greatest. He was certainly a spiritual father and pioneer in the modern Iranian church, which is now seeing explosive growth. On October 20, 2010, Seth Yeghnazar’s joy was made complete when he went to be with his sweet savior and friend, Jesus. He was just four months short of his 100th birthday. The following is from the obituary that his children and grandchildren wrote about his life. It will challenge you to love Jesus wholeheartedly, and will help you understand a little more about why so many Iranians are finding Christ today.
Seth Yeghnazar was born in Iran, on February 13, 1911. Seth means ‘anointed’ and his name was well chosen. He lived a remarkable life, wholly dedicated to God. As a spiritual father to many in his beloved Iran and beyond, he came to be fondly known as ‘Papa Seth’. Papa Seth was born to Hairapet and Nunufar and had one brother and four sisters. His father Hairapet was the mayor of Khoygan, a village in the province of Isfahan, Iran.
Papa’s parents realized that he was exceptionally bright and sent him to Isfahan for further study at Stuart Memorial College run by missionaries. It was one of the finest educational institutions of the time. He studied well, and remained an avid reader and student his entire life. After graduation, he returned to his birthplace and taught in the village school for three years.
In 1937, Papa Seth yielded his life to Jesus Christ. He shared his new found faith with his fiancée Vartouhi, which means Rose. She readily committed her life to Jesus. He told her that he intended to wholeheartedly follow Jesus Christ his entire life, and asked her if she still wanted to marry him. She unreservedly agreed and they got married that year. He was 26 and she was 21. Despite lucrative offers, Papa chose to join the Bible Society, where he served diligently for 37 years. Throughout his time at the Bible Society, he had the opportunity to lead many visitors to Jesus.
In the 1950s, he developed a strong longing to experience God in greater measure. He studied about the ‘outpouring’ of the Holy Spirit in other continents in modern times. He was captivated with the Spirit of Pentecost and so fasted and prayed for 42 days, to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Lord heard Papa’s cry and would soon meet with him in very profound.
He would go to the hills outside Tehran for prayer with a friend. One day when his friend came to the Bible House, Papa knelt down for prayer and felt the Holy Spirit coming upon himself. But he had to continue working. Later as he was cycling home from work, he felt the overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit. It was to be a life changing experience of baptism by fire. He always remembered the day, time and place as his very own ‘Bethel’. This was the dramatic turning point in Papa Seth’s life.
When he arrived home, his wife and children noticed his face was shining. Vartouhi knew something wonderful had happened to him. At first Papa kept this experience to himself but early in the morning on 9th December, 1955, he could contain himself no longer. During a family devotion that morning, he asked his wife Vartouhi and all six children if they were ready for the Lord’s return. He shared about his experience, and as they prayed together that morning, they experienced the tangible presence.That day, the presence of the Holy Spirit lingered over the family home in Tehran for hours. Each member of the family were filled with the Holy Spirit and together they spent hours before the Lord in prayer with joy and holy tears, dedicating themselves as a family to the service of the Lord. From January 1956, they held a prayer meeting and Bible study in their home every day, without fail, for four years. Each day they welcomed the presence of the Lord into their home, and invited others to join them in seeking Him. Many lives were transformed by the Lord through these faithful meetings, and together this small, growing group of believers witnessed signs, visions, and miraculous healings.
In 1959, he built an additional floor at his house and benches to expand the church, but others suggested Papa’s family home could no longer contain the volume of people any more, and the church moved to a rented basement in Tehran, to be known as Philadelphia Church and later as ‘Jamaate Rabani’ in Iran. Papa was deeply in love with Jesus, and his love only grew. Throughout these years of ministry, he became known for two main things: his love and study of the Word of God, and his love and dedication to prayer and time with the Lord.
He went nowhere without his Bible. Whether he went to visit a friend or out for a walk in the park, his Bible was always at hand. Even when he went jogging, he held on to God’s word tightly as he ran and worshipped. When it came to prayer, his life was marked by intimacy with God. He spent hours each day in the presence of the Lord. His prayers were not a list of requests. Yes, he did present his supplications to God, but the bulk of his time was spent in worship and expression of love for the Lord. He prayed because he wanted to know God more, and to enjoy loving fellowship. He often prayed all night. Those who had the privilege of overhearing him in a private prayer time, all remark how intimately he spoke with the Lord, and how powerfully he cried out to God on behalf of others.
Papa became well known in the church in Iran for a profoundly simple question he asked most people he met: “Do you love Jesus?” This was not an off the cuff question, but revealed his deep understanding that the heart of the Christian life is a loving relationship with the Savior. He longed for others to experience the all encompassing love of God. In 1963, he had to face the loss of his most beloved wife Vartouhi, who died of cancer at the age of 47. He had loved her dearly and was devastated, but the Lord met with him again and he humbly and determinedly devoted himself to raising his family and to serving the church and His Master the rest of his life.
Papa often quoted from Acts 16:31 when witnessing. It says “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” He encouraged people to believe God for the salvation of all their family. He was an amazing father, and today all six of his children with their spouses serve the Lord. His daughter-in- law, Angel, a much-loved servant of God, passed away in 2008. Twin daughters were also born to Papa and Vartouhi, but they did not survive. Papa believed they had eight children, and he was looking forward to meeting the twins in heaven.
His sixteen grandchildren and their eight spouses are committed believers. Each one testifies to the impact and inspiration he has had on their lives. Papa also had fifteen great grandchildren who gave him great joy in his late years. As has been noted already, Papa is considered to be the spiritual father to many. The many hundreds of messages received from all over the world are a true testament to his legendary fatherly love and concern. Little did he know when he obediently and excitedly opened his house for meetings every day for four years, how much God would bless and how his humble pioneering act would establish a movement which carries on today.
The Lord called his servant and friend Papa Seth at the age of 99, on October 20th, 2010. In a fitting end, his final words in his native Armenian were ‘Park Diroj’ - ‘Glory to the Lord’.