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  • Update On Canadian Ecumenical Visit To Armenia

    UPDATE ON CANADIAN ECUMENICAL VISIT TO ARMENIA

    Anglican Church of Canada (press release), Canada
    30 Aug 2005 by Press Office

    August 31, 2005 -- Since its arrival in Armenia, Aug. 24, a Canadian
    ecumenical delegation has visited many historic sites in the Mother
    See of Holy Etchmiadzin, which is the pre-eminent centre of authority
    in the worldwide Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church. The delegation
    met His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
    Armenians. Discussions focused on the current status of ecumenical
    life, the relationship of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church
    and sister churches as well as the difficulties and challenges that
    churches are facing in the world today.

    The delegation's week-long visit (Aug. 24 - Sep. 1) coincided with
    the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

    The following report is courtesy of the press office of the Armenian
    Church of Canada:

    Canadian Church Leaders in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

    The long awaited visit of Canada's Church leaders to the Mother See
    of Holy Etchmiadzin is a clear expression of the close cooperation
    and the ecumenical spirit that exists between the Diocese of the
    Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church in Canada and various Christian
    denominations and sister churches.

    On Thursday, August 25 2005, Abp. Andrew Hutchison, Primate of the
    Anglican National Church in Canada; Abp. Brendan O'Brien, President
    of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops; Abp. Sotirios, Greek
    Orthodox Metropolitan of Canada and Dr. Richard Schneider, President of
    the Canadian Council of Churches, accompanied by Deacon Hagop Arslanian
    arrived in Armenia at Zvartnots International Airport. The ecumenical
    delegation was received by His Grace Bishop Bagrat Galstanian,
    Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church, Diocese of Canada.

    After a brief rest in the visitors residence of the Mother See, the
    representative of sister churches toured the historic museum of the
    Cathedral, and the Monasteries of St. Gayane and St. Hripsime. In
    Hripsime, Archbishop O'Brien said a prayer before the tomb of
    the saint. Bishop Bagrat extensively talked about the historical
    backgrounds and foundation of the Mother Cathedral, the museum and
    the monasteries. Thursday afternoon, the delegation had a meeting
    with the WCC (World Council of Churches) "Armenia Round Table"
    office. Dr. Karen Nazarian made a brief presentation of the projects
    and activities of the Department. The mission of the WCC Armenia
    Round Table was highly appreciated by the Canadian Church Leaders.

    Afterwards, an informative meeting was held at Shoghakat TV Company.

    The guests were received by Mrs. Manya Ghazarian, Executive Director
    of the TV station.

    On Friday, August 26, 2005 the delegation was received by His Holiness
    Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. His
    Holiness greeted the guests and expressed his joy at receiving a high
    ranking delegation from sister churches in Canada. Discussions were
    focused on the current status of ecumenical life, the relationship of
    the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church and sister Churches as well
    as the difficulties and challenges that churches are facing in the
    world today. In the afternoon, the guests visited the Matenadaran
    (Depository of Ancient Manuscripts) and were received by Mr. Sen
    Arevshatian, Director. Mr. Arevshatian talked about the importance
    of the Matenadaran in the history of the Armenian people and praised
    the role of the Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in
    preserving this national institution.

    Since this visit of Canadian Church Leaders coincided with the 90th
    anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the delegation laid a wreath
    at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to the Armenian Genocide, praying
    for the repose of the souls of the 1.5 million victims. Mr. Lavrenti
    Barseghian, Director of the Genocide Museum received the guests and
    gave them a tour through the museum. Afterwards, the guests visited the
    newly constructed Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral of Yerevan.

    On Saturday, August 27, 2005 the guests held a successful meeting with
    the president of the National Assembly (parliament) of the Republic
    of Armenia, His Excellency Artur Baghdasaryan. Mr. Baghdasaryan
    presented the constitutional reforms that the government and the
    state of Armenia are aiming to achieve.

    He highlighted the importance of the Church in the life of the
    Armenian people and in the process of realizing the constitutional
    reforms. Prior to the meeting with Mr. Baghdasaryan, the delegation
    visited with Honorary Consul of Canada in Armenia, Mr. Artashes Emin.

    The next visit was to the Vaskenian Theological Academy at Lake Sevan
    where the Dean of the Academy, Rev. Fr Mkrtich Proshian received the
    high-ranking dignitaries.

    They also visited the Church of the Holy Apostles up at the top of
    the hill surrounding the Vaskenian Academy. By the invitation of the
    Very Rev. Fr. Sasoon Zumroukhdian, the guests visited the mayor of the
    city of Dilijan, Mr. Jora Sahakian. In the evening, an informative
    meeting was held between the Brotherhood of the Mother See of Holy
    Etchmiadzin and the members of the Ecumenical delegation.

    On Sunday, August 28, 2005 the ecumenical delegation held a brief
    meeting with His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
    of All Armenians. Following the meeting they participated in the
    procession of the Clergy into the Mother Cathedral, presided by His
    Holiness the Catholicos. Rev. Fr. Ghoukas Zakaryan celebrated the
    Divine Liturgy. During the Liturgy each member of the delegation
    addressed the faithful in attendance, and expressed their gratitude
    to His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians and praised
    the people of Armenia for their hope, faith and steadfastness in our
    Lord Jesus Christ. On Sunday afternoon, the delegation visited the
    Saint Mesrop Mashtots Church in Oshakan, Diocese of Aragatsotsn. They
    were received by Very Rev. Fr. Torgom Tonikian, the Locum Tenens,
    and greeted by Sunday School children of the church. They attended the
    Evening Vespers led by His Grace Bishop Bagrat Galstanian. Following
    the church service, they each prayed on the tomb of Saint Mesrop
    Mashtots.

    On Monday, August 29, 2005, the delegation met with the Minister of
    Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Vartan Oskanian. The
    meeting was very informative and touched upon regional issues of
    concern, including the peaceful settlement Nagorno Karabagh conflict,
    Armenian-Turkish relations, and constitutional reforms for the RA,
    as well as the current status of international diplomatic relations,
    specifically with regards to Canada. In the afternoon, the delegation
    visited the National Academy of Sciences. They were greeted by
    President Fadey Sargisian who introduced the work and scholarly
    activities of the Academy to the guests. The same day, Bishop Bagrat
    led the high-ranking clergymen to the Monastery of Geghard and were
    met by the abbot of the monastery, Rev. Fr. Ghevond Ghevondian. He
    provided the guests with an extensive historical review of the complex
    and hosted them to an afternoon lunch.

    On Tuesday, August 30, 2005, the Primates of the Canadian Churches
    visited the Monastery of Khor Virap and offered their solemn prayers
    while inside the deep pit dungeon of Saint Gregory the Illuminator,
    following which the group visited the Monastery of Noravank in the
    southern region of Armenia. Accompanying the delegation to Noravank
    were the Canadian-Armenian benefactors of the complex, Mr. Dickran
    and Mrs. Diana Hadjetian from Montreal.

    http://www.anglican.ca/news/news.php?newsItem=2005-08-31_armenia.news
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