The ashes of late Diaspora Armenian businessman, public activist, and benefactor Vahakn Hovnanian have been returned from the Lebanese capital city of Beirut to the Armenian capital city of Yerevan, representatives from Hovnanian International company told Armenian News – NEWS.am.    

According to them, it hasn’t yet been decided where Hovnanian’s ashes will be buried; additional information on that will be disseminated later.

People in Yerevan bid their last farewell to the philanthropist at the wake, on September 4, in the Komitas Chamber Music Hall building.

On the same day, Vahakn Hovnanian’s body was taken to Beirut, where a farewell ceremony and memorial service was held at the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Vahakn Hovnanian passed away on August 31 in Yerevan.

Hovnanian was born on February 16, 1932 in Iraq.

His charitable projects have targeted the preservation and development of Armenian culture as well as tourism development in Armenia.

Vahakn Hovnanian was also a member of the America-Israel Friendship Council.