Published on April 30, 2025 4:32 pm
Last Updated on April 30, 2025 4:37 pm
The third and final panel of the “Canticle of the Sun” was unveiled Wednesday at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital.
The series of mosaic tile creations were the work of Dr. Ruben Boyajian. In addition to being a noted surgeon, Dr. Boyajian is a gifted artist. He painted the roses on either side of the stage at the Effingham Performance Center, completed the cupola work at the Effingham Courthouse Museum, baked and designed gingerbread houses, and now has completed his latest masterpiece.
Dr. Boyajian began work on the first of the three panels in 2016, then completed the second panel five years later. The final panel is completed in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the hospital.
(DR. RUBEN AND EMILY BOYAJIAN)
The first panel focuses on creation and St. Francis’ love for all living things, and the second panel focuses on Francis’ work, sometimes at cost to his own health. The final panel focuses on the fire at the original hospital in 1949 and the death of 77 patients. It also focuses on the rebirth of the hospital with construction of a new facility and the care for those who perished in the fire and the hope of new life. Included in the newest panel are 77 “leaves” featuring the names of those who lost their lives in the hospital fire including specially-colored leaves for the children who perished
Springfield Diocesan Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki came to Effingham to lead a Mass in the hospital chapel before participating in the dedication of the third panel.
(BISHOP PAPROCKI BLESSES THE NEWEST PANEL)
Dr. Boyajian credited his wife Emily for her considerable work on the panel, as well as Carol Gapsis for placing many of the tiles on the panel.
Among the guests at the dedication was former St. Anthony’s Hospital Administrator Theresa Rutherford, who Dr. Boyajian credited with the idea for the series of panels.
The series of panels are located in the hallway just inside the hospital’s Healing Garden next to the hospital chapel.
