Faith

Most of the Armenians in the vineyard country of Southern California had heard the story of Avak Hagopian, the goldsmith's apprentice of Azerbaijan. Four years ago, when Avak was 16, God had appeared in a vision before him. God had given Avak the power to cure. Letters from the old country swore it was true. With a touch of his fingers Avak cured ulcers, paralysis, cancer. He had been tried for charlatanry--and had won acquittal by curing the throbbing pain in his judge's head. He had also won as his staunchest disciple the Iranian army doctor 'assigned to investigate him.

In California. 76-year-old Krikor Arakelian read the stories. Arakelian was the watermelon king of Southern California and the owner of Mission Bell wines. He was a millionaire many times over. But no amount of money seemed able to cure his son, a hopeless epileptic since his head was injured in an auto accident. Arakelian made up his mind to send for Avak. Last week the faith healer of Azerbaijan arrived at Los Angeles' municipal airport, dressed in the long robes of a Gregorian Communicant, with matted beard and shoulder-length hair framing his pallid face.

Reporters surrounded him. He was a little puzzled by the questions. What was so difficult to understand? God had given him the power to cure; he was using it. Avak removed his hood and hairnet, passed a comb through his tangled hair. Said he: "I think I can cure the younger Arakelian."

The Hopeful. Arakelian took Avak to his Palm Springs mansion, "Dream of the Desert," once owned by Barbara Hutton. Avak paid a brief visit to his new patient, placed his hands on Vaughn Arakelian's shoulders and told him: "You are going to get well in a very short time." Then the young faith healer retired to the more modest home of one of Arakelian's neighbors. He walked in the yard, went for an auto ride through town, ate cheese, vegetables and bread. He could read no English, but he ruffled interestedly through stacks of mail and telegrams which began to arrive.

This week he began his prayers and treatments. The Arakelians and their friends, and thousands of others, were eager to believe that someone else had sufficient faith to work a miracle.

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