PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Dn. Armen Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: DnArmen@etchmiadzin.am
September 30, 2003
Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
Celebrates “Liturgy of Oath” in Holy Etchmiadzin
On Sunday, September 28, the Armenian Church commemorated the Feast
of the Holy Cross of Varag. His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern),
celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin.
More than sixty pilgrims from the United States, among them Diocesan
Council Members and benefactors of the Mother See, arrived in Armenia
with His Eminence to participate in their “Divine Liturgy of Oath”
dedicated to the 1,700th Anniversary of the Consecration of the first
Cathedral of the Armenian People.
His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Bozabalian, welcomed the pilgrims on
behalf of the Catholicos of All Armenians and the Brotherhood of Holy
Etchmiadzin during the Divine Liturgy. His Eminence Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian delivered his message of the day to the faithful, noting:
“Today we have come on a pilgrimage from the United States, to renew
ourselves through this Holy and Immortal Liturgy, to kiss the anointed
Right Hand of His Holiness, and to return to America renewed by the
sacred mystery of Holy Etchmiadzin in order to continue our life as
faithful sons of the Armenian Church, and faithful soldiers of this
Most Holy See of the Catholicosate of All Armenians. …Looking towards
the future, we should also remember the past. All Armenians, gathering
around St. Gregory the Illuminator, created spiritual unity and the
built this Holy Cathedral of Etchmiadzin. Today, on the occasion of
the 1,700th Anniversary of the consecration of the Mother Cathedral,
we have the need for that spiritual unity. If we aspire for our
homeland to grow stronger, if we desire that love, kindness, and a
knowledge of conscience be spread throughout every Armenian family,
and in every Armenian life, we must create that spiritual unity.
Life cannot continue without the presence of God. Without the presence
of God, our homeland cannot progress. We must love and respect one
another, and as 1,700 years ago, we must gather around our Pontiff,
and we shall continue in the building of our tradition.”
* * *
Following the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme
Patriarch and Catholics of All Armenians, presided during a special
requiem service held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in
memory of the victims of the terrorist bombing of the United Nations
Headquarters in Baghdad on August 19, 2003. Diplomats from foreign
countries accredited in the Republic of Armenia attended the service.
The Catholicos of All Armenians received the diplomats in the
Pontifical Residence at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy.
Yorumlar kapatıldı.