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Canada Prelacy: Response to Canada Diocese communiqué

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  • Canada Prelacy: Response to Canada Diocese communiqué

    PRESS OFFICE
    Armenian Prelacy of Canada
    3401 Olivar Asselin
    Montreal, Quebec H4J 1L5
    514-856-1200 TEL
    514-856-1805 FAX
    e-mail: [email protected]

    COMMUNIQUE

    (IN RESPONSE TO A MISLEADING COMMUNIQUE)

    It was with a deep sense of surprise and disappointment that we
    read the communiqué which was recently put into circulation in the name of
    the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada (Etchmiadzin). Through the
    premeditated distortion of well-established historical facts, misinformation
    and baised conclusions, this Communique attempts to create an atmosphere of
    confusion and tension within the Armenian community as well as non-Armenian
    circles.

    We do not wish to engage in a senseless and harmful public
    debate. Nevertheless for the sake of truth we wish to present the following
    facts to our people:

    A. Our community, which in fact represents the majority of Armenians in
    Canada, has never been a part of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
    Canada (Etchmiadzin) either by way of churches, educational institutions or
    other organizations.
    B. Our community along with all of its aforementioned structures was
    always an organic and integral part of the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
    Church of the Eastern United States and Canada (Cilicia).
    C. "The Prelacy of the Eastern United States and Canada" had its
    headquarters in New York. Beginning in 1997, a Canadian Vicarage together
    with a Vice-Prelate was established in Montreal, which during the ensuing
    years officially received Their Holinesses of Blessed Memory Vazken I and
    Karekin I and His Holiness Karekin II Catholicoi of the Holy See
    Etchmiadzin, as well as Their Holinesses of Blessed Memory Khoren I and
    Karekin II and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicoi of the Holy See of Cilicia.
    D. Considering that the "Prelacy of the Eastern United States and
    Canada" was divided geographically between two different countries, certain
    practical problems coupled with the ever-growing needs of the Armenians in
    Canada, compelled the higher authorities of the Prelacy to separate Canada,
    which was already endowed with its own By-laws and diocesan structures, from
    the "Prelacy of the Eastern United States and Canada" and render it fully
    autonomous. For the record with the same reasoning, an identical decision
    was implemented in 1984 by the Diocese of the Armenian Church of the Eastern
    United Staes and Canada (Etchmiadzin).
    E. In 2002 the National Representative Assembly of the Canadian Prelacy
    elected a Prelate according to its by-laws, giving to the Catholicossal
    Vicar the title of Prelate.
    F. Despite the fact that the election was legitimate and was the
    natural consequence of internal administrative reorganization, His Holiness
    Catholicos Aram I, motivated by the desire to enhance the cooperation
    between our Prelacy and the Diocese, advised our Prelate-elect, not to use
    his title, and continue to keep that of Catholicosal Vicar.
    G. However, the good will shown by His Holiness, the Catholicosal Vicar,
    as well as the Executive Council and all affiliated bodies and
    organizations, unfortunately was not reciprocated in the same spirit by the
    Primate and diocesan authorities.

    Therefore, it is a plain fact that a new Prelacy was not established as the
    Communique of Diocese and some circles attempt to portray in order to incite
    provocation and misunderstanding in our community and in the Diaspora at
    large. The fact is that this was simply an internal administrative
    reorganization within an existing Prelacy and diocesan structures.

    We do not wish to state anything further. We simply wanted to bring the
    aforementioned facts to the attention of our community and those interested.
    We are grieved by the spirit demonstrated by the Diocese and the misleading
    conclusions of the Communique.

    This is our statement and stand. We remain firmly committed to cooperation.
    We will not respond to any further negative expressions directed at us.
    Rather we will continue unswervingly to serve our people, the Armenian
    Apostolic Church, our Fatherland, the Armenian Cause, Armenian education and
    culture under the auspices of the Catholicosate of the Great House of
    Cilica.

    ###
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