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PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]
20 March 2006
PRIMATE RETURNS FROM ABROAD WITH GREAT ZEAL FOLLOWING THE PONTIFICAL VISIT
TO INDIA
Sydney, Australia - On Saturday, 17 March, 2007 His Eminence Archbishop
Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia
and New Zealand and Pontifical Legate to India & the far East made his safe
return to Sydney after three weeks abroad undertaking various functions.
Taking flight on 25 February, Archbishop Baliozian left for Calcutta, India
accompanied by Very Reverend Father Vardan Navasardyan to meet, greet and
accompany His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians on the official Pontifical Visit to India, the first of its kind
since 1963. During the course of the week, the Pontiff of All Armenians
toured places of interest in India but foremost visited century old Armenian
churches, institutions and landmarks in New Delhi, Agra, Chennai (Madras),
Mumbai (Bombay) and Kolkata (Calcutta). During the Pontifical visitation,
His Holiness presided over the re-consecration of the Holy Trinity Armenian
Church of Tangra in Kolkata which was restored by the Armenian Church
Committee of Calcutta on occasion of His Holiness' visit.
Also accompanying the clerical entourage of the Supreme Head of the Armenian
Church were His Excellency Ashot Kocharian, Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to India; Mr Haik Sookias Jr,
Chairman of the Armenian Church Committee of Calcutta; and other members of
the Committee.
On the trail of His Holiness' return to the Mother See on 5 March,
Archbishop Baliozian too made his passage to Holy Etchmiadzin to partake in
the Meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council from 7-9 March. However, prior
to his departure on 4 March, Archbishop Baliozian presided over the
re-consecration of the newly renovated St Mary's Armenian Church of
Saiadabad.
On the agenda items of the Supreme Spiritual Council, the Meeting reviewed
the annual administrative and financial reports of the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin; was updated on the progress of forming an International
Armenian Church Youth Organization; discussed the continuing issues with the
Armenian Diocese of Georgia and its lack of legal status; and deliberated
over the proposed diocesan by-laws. The Catholicos of All Armenians also
informed the members of the Supreme Spiritual Council that the date for the
next blessing of the Holy Chrism (Muron) had been decided for September 28,
2008.
After a brief period of rest in Yerevan, Archbishop Baliozian began his
return journey to Sydney on 13 March incorporating a two day pastoral visit
to Bangkok en route.
On March 15, His Eminence performed the holy sacrament of baptism of twin
siblings Paul and Mina Mirzakhanian at Anglican Christ Church also
celebrating the infants' first birthday.
The same evening, the Primate was guest of honour of the Honorary
Consul-General to Thailand, Mr Greg Der Kevorkian at a reception held at the
Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel. The intimate gathering of some 50 Armenian
ex-patriots and guests embraced the opportunity to mingle with the Primate
and keenly learnt of his recent travels, firstly the Pontifical Visit of His
Holiness Karekin II to India followed by the Supreme Spiritual Council
Meeting in Holy Etchmiadzin. In his address, His Eminence warmly greeted
the attendees bringing with him the blessings of the Mother See.
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]
20 March 2006
PRIMATE RETURNS FROM ABROAD WITH GREAT ZEAL FOLLOWING THE PONTIFICAL VISIT
TO INDIA
Sydney, Australia - On Saturday, 17 March, 2007 His Eminence Archbishop
Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia
and New Zealand and Pontifical Legate to India & the far East made his safe
return to Sydney after three weeks abroad undertaking various functions.
Taking flight on 25 February, Archbishop Baliozian left for Calcutta, India
accompanied by Very Reverend Father Vardan Navasardyan to meet, greet and
accompany His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians on the official Pontifical Visit to India, the first of its kind
since 1963. During the course of the week, the Pontiff of All Armenians
toured places of interest in India but foremost visited century old Armenian
churches, institutions and landmarks in New Delhi, Agra, Chennai (Madras),
Mumbai (Bombay) and Kolkata (Calcutta). During the Pontifical visitation,
His Holiness presided over the re-consecration of the Holy Trinity Armenian
Church of Tangra in Kolkata which was restored by the Armenian Church
Committee of Calcutta on occasion of His Holiness' visit.
Also accompanying the clerical entourage of the Supreme Head of the Armenian
Church were His Excellency Ashot Kocharian, Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to India; Mr Haik Sookias Jr,
Chairman of the Armenian Church Committee of Calcutta; and other members of
the Committee.
On the trail of His Holiness' return to the Mother See on 5 March,
Archbishop Baliozian too made his passage to Holy Etchmiadzin to partake in
the Meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council from 7-9 March. However, prior
to his departure on 4 March, Archbishop Baliozian presided over the
re-consecration of the newly renovated St Mary's Armenian Church of
Saiadabad.
On the agenda items of the Supreme Spiritual Council, the Meeting reviewed
the annual administrative and financial reports of the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin; was updated on the progress of forming an International
Armenian Church Youth Organization; discussed the continuing issues with the
Armenian Diocese of Georgia and its lack of legal status; and deliberated
over the proposed diocesan by-laws. The Catholicos of All Armenians also
informed the members of the Supreme Spiritual Council that the date for the
next blessing of the Holy Chrism (Muron) had been decided for September 28,
2008.
After a brief period of rest in Yerevan, Archbishop Baliozian began his
return journey to Sydney on 13 March incorporating a two day pastoral visit
to Bangkok en route.
On March 15, His Eminence performed the holy sacrament of baptism of twin
siblings Paul and Mina Mirzakhanian at Anglican Christ Church also
celebrating the infants' first birthday.
The same evening, the Primate was guest of honour of the Honorary
Consul-General to Thailand, Mr Greg Der Kevorkian at a reception held at the
Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel. The intimate gathering of some 50 Armenian
ex-patriots and guests embraced the opportunity to mingle with the Primate
and keenly learnt of his recent travels, firstly the Pontifical Visit of His
Holiness Karekin II to India followed by the Supreme Spiritual Council
Meeting in Holy Etchmiadzin. In his address, His Eminence warmly greeted
the attendees bringing with him the blessings of the Mother See.