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ARMENIAN CONSULATE HOSTS CATHOLICOS ARAM I
by Ara Khachatourian
Thursday, October 13th, 2011
Aram I presents a memento from the Catholicosat to Consul General
GLENDALE-"This Consulate is our home, just as the Church and Armenia
are our homes," stated His Holiness Catholicos Aram I during a visit
to the new headquarters of the Armenian Consulate General on Wednesday,
October 12.
The Catholicos arrived at the Consulate General accompanied by
Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian and clergy and
councils members. Upon their arrival, the Catholicos and his entourage
were welcomed by Consul General of Armenia Grigor Hovhannisyan and
consular staff.
The Consulate General had organized a reception in honor of the
Catholicos, with the participation of acting Consul General of Lebanon
the Honorable Madonna Aoun Ghazal, representatives from the "House
of Lebanon," Rev. Joe Matossian, Minister of the Armenian Evangelical
Union of North America, Very Rev. Fr. Krikor Chahinian, Rector of the
Armenian Catholic Church, former ARF Bureau member Dr. Viken Hovsepian,
ARF Central Committee members, Central Executive and Executive Council
members, community leaders, sponsors, and friends.
At the entrance of the Consulate General, His Holiness conducted the
Blessing of the Home ceremony and the traditional blessing of salt
and bread.
In his welcoming remarks, Consul General Hovhannissian stated that
His Holiness is an important figure not just for Armenians but also in
the international arena, and presented His Holiness with a painting of
the historic St. Mary's Church of Ani. He then invited the Prelate to
deliver his remarks and to introduce His Holiness. The Prelate first
thanked the Consulate General and Consular staff for their warm welcome
and reception. He stated that his first visit to the new headquarters
was just recently at the official opening, and expressed joy that this
second visit took place during the Pontifical Visit of His Holiness
to our Prelacy. His Holiness was then invited to deliver his message.
His Holiness commended the Consul General and Consular staff for their
service to our homeland and spoke of the role of the Consulate General
as the home of Armenians. Stating that Armenia is our history, our
past, our present, and our future, His Holiness added that Armenia
has sustained us and it is our responsibility to sustain it. The
Diaspora and Artsakh is an extension of Armenia, and every Armenian
has an obligations to serve for the splendor of these nations and
communities. His Holiness also reflected on the Armenian Cause,
saying that we will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Genocide
not just with prayers but by demanding the rights of our people,
and that the Catholicosate of Cilicia has been and will remain on
the forefront of pursuing the Armenian Cause.
His Holiness presented the Consul General with a beautiful painting,
and the Prelate also presented him with a carpet on behalf of the
Prelacy.
The reception came to a close with the benediction by His Holiness.
by Ara Khachatourian
Thursday, October 13th, 2011
Aram I presents a memento from the Catholicosat to Consul General
GLENDALE-"This Consulate is our home, just as the Church and Armenia
are our homes," stated His Holiness Catholicos Aram I during a visit
to the new headquarters of the Armenian Consulate General on Wednesday,
October 12.
The Catholicos arrived at the Consulate General accompanied by
Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian and clergy and
councils members. Upon their arrival, the Catholicos and his entourage
were welcomed by Consul General of Armenia Grigor Hovhannisyan and
consular staff.
The Consulate General had organized a reception in honor of the
Catholicos, with the participation of acting Consul General of Lebanon
the Honorable Madonna Aoun Ghazal, representatives from the "House
of Lebanon," Rev. Joe Matossian, Minister of the Armenian Evangelical
Union of North America, Very Rev. Fr. Krikor Chahinian, Rector of the
Armenian Catholic Church, former ARF Bureau member Dr. Viken Hovsepian,
ARF Central Committee members, Central Executive and Executive Council
members, community leaders, sponsors, and friends.
At the entrance of the Consulate General, His Holiness conducted the
Blessing of the Home ceremony and the traditional blessing of salt
and bread.
In his welcoming remarks, Consul General Hovhannissian stated that
His Holiness is an important figure not just for Armenians but also in
the international arena, and presented His Holiness with a painting of
the historic St. Mary's Church of Ani. He then invited the Prelate to
deliver his remarks and to introduce His Holiness. The Prelate first
thanked the Consulate General and Consular staff for their warm welcome
and reception. He stated that his first visit to the new headquarters
was just recently at the official opening, and expressed joy that this
second visit took place during the Pontifical Visit of His Holiness
to our Prelacy. His Holiness was then invited to deliver his message.
His Holiness commended the Consul General and Consular staff for their
service to our homeland and spoke of the role of the Consulate General
as the home of Armenians. Stating that Armenia is our history, our
past, our present, and our future, His Holiness added that Armenia
has sustained us and it is our responsibility to sustain it. The
Diaspora and Artsakh is an extension of Armenia, and every Armenian
has an obligations to serve for the splendor of these nations and
communities. His Holiness also reflected on the Armenian Cause,
saying that we will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Genocide
not just with prayers but by demanding the rights of our people,
and that the Catholicosate of Cilicia has been and will remain on
the forefront of pursuing the Armenian Cause.
His Holiness presented the Consul General with a beautiful painting,
and the Prelate also presented him with a carpet on behalf of the
Prelacy.
The reception came to a close with the benediction by His Holiness.