Tweet
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]
17 August 2005
PRIMATE CELEBRATES THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD IN
THE PARISH OF MELBOURNE
Sydney, Australia - Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
Australia and New Zealand, His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian
returned to Sydney this morning having celebrated Sunday's Feast Day
at St Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church in Melbourne, Victoria.
The Assumption of the Holy Mother of God is one of five Major Feast
Days in the liturgical calendar of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Each year Archbishop Baliozian celebrates the Divine Liturgy at St
Mary's Armenian Church in Melbourne assisted by parish priest Reverend
Father Hagop Cherkezian, Deacons and the Zvartnotz Church Choir.
On this day each year the faithful congregation gather in large numbers
to hear the Primate's message honouring the significant role of the
Holy Mother of God in propagating the message of Christ and the start
of Christianity.
In his sermon, Archbishop Baliozian reminded the congregation how
God's blessing of Mary, the honour of being the mother of Jesus,
would lead to much pain with the ridicule of being pregnant in an
unwed state and her son would be rejected and murdered. But through
her son would come the world's only hope. Mary found favour with God
because her submission was part of God's plan. She remained steadfast
beside her son, submitted to Jesus' ways because she recognised the
he was more than her human son - he was the Son of God.
During Holy Mass, a requiem service was held in memory of past clergy,
benefactors, founders and those who had given long-standing service
to St Mary's Armenian Church as well as for the souls of the late
Fr Terenig Tavitian and Fr Zaven Hakobian who were both tragically
killed in separate road accidents in Armenia over the past three weeks.
Following the church service, a memorial lunch was held in the church
hall that was attended by the Primate and congregation members in an
atmosphere of cordial welcome.
During his visit to the parish of Melbourne, Archbishop Baliozian
partook in a number of meetings. On Friday, 12 August he met with two
Anglican Bishops and an Archdeacon for a lunchtime meeting to discuss
matters of ecumenism specifically on relations between Anglican and
Oriental Orthodox Churches.
On Saturday, 13 August the Primate met firstly with Armenian students
preparing for high school matriculation, secondly with students of
the Aginian Armenian Saturday School and later with the Principal
of the School to discuss matters pertaining to the school, education
and the Armenian language. In the same evening, the Primate attended
a function organised by the Sahagian Sporting Club.
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]
17 August 2005
PRIMATE CELEBRATES THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD IN
THE PARISH OF MELBOURNE
Sydney, Australia - Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
Australia and New Zealand, His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian
returned to Sydney this morning having celebrated Sunday's Feast Day
at St Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church in Melbourne, Victoria.
The Assumption of the Holy Mother of God is one of five Major Feast
Days in the liturgical calendar of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Each year Archbishop Baliozian celebrates the Divine Liturgy at St
Mary's Armenian Church in Melbourne assisted by parish priest Reverend
Father Hagop Cherkezian, Deacons and the Zvartnotz Church Choir.
On this day each year the faithful congregation gather in large numbers
to hear the Primate's message honouring the significant role of the
Holy Mother of God in propagating the message of Christ and the start
of Christianity.
In his sermon, Archbishop Baliozian reminded the congregation how
God's blessing of Mary, the honour of being the mother of Jesus,
would lead to much pain with the ridicule of being pregnant in an
unwed state and her son would be rejected and murdered. But through
her son would come the world's only hope. Mary found favour with God
because her submission was part of God's plan. She remained steadfast
beside her son, submitted to Jesus' ways because she recognised the
he was more than her human son - he was the Son of God.
During Holy Mass, a requiem service was held in memory of past clergy,
benefactors, founders and those who had given long-standing service
to St Mary's Armenian Church as well as for the souls of the late
Fr Terenig Tavitian and Fr Zaven Hakobian who were both tragically
killed in separate road accidents in Armenia over the past three weeks.
Following the church service, a memorial lunch was held in the church
hall that was attended by the Primate and congregation members in an
atmosphere of cordial welcome.
During his visit to the parish of Melbourne, Archbishop Baliozian
partook in a number of meetings. On Friday, 12 August he met with two
Anglican Bishops and an Archdeacon for a lunchtime meeting to discuss
matters of ecumenism specifically on relations between Anglican and
Oriental Orthodox Churches.
On Saturday, 13 August the Primate met firstly with Armenian students
preparing for high school matriculation, secondly with students of
the Aginian Armenian Saturday School and later with the Principal
of the School to discuss matters pertaining to the school, education
and the Armenian language. In the same evening, the Primate attended
a function organised by the Sahagian Sporting Club.