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Glendale News-Press - Agasi Vartanyan climbed out of a wood-and-glass enclosure Thursday morning, ending his 55-day fast to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, in which he lost relatives.

As he stepped down a ladder from the enclosure outside St. Leon Cathedral in Burbank, a couple of men helped him into a wheelchair as hundreds of supporters watched.

Minutes later, he said through a translator, “I feel well. I have great satisfaction.”

A Glendale resident, Vartanyan weighed 168 pounds on Thursday, 56 fewer pounds than he did when he started his fast 55 days ago with nothing more than clothes, a television and 55 gallons of water.

He chose to fast for 55 days, in part, because he is 55 years old.

While in the enclosure, he said Armenians around the world learned of his effort and supported him.

“I believe that in life, you never get anywhere unless you fight for it, struggle for it,” he said.

After leaving the enclosure, someone asked Vartanyan what he planned to eat now that his fast has ended.

“Whatever I eat will be the most delicious thing in the world,” he said, jokingly.

The coming years will be dedicated to attaining justice for the 1.5 million lives lost, said Harut Sassounian, president of Crimes Against Humanity Never Again, an organization which built the enclosure for Vartanyan and partnered with him in his fast.

He said legal actions in international courts will work to return land and churches that are now part of Turkey to Armenia.

“The next decade, the next few years, we are not going to pursue recognition anymore. We are going to pursue justice,” Sassounian said.