PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; adiocese@aol.com Website;

A CLOSE FRIEND OF ARMENIANS AND THE ARMENIAN CHURCH CANADIAN DIOCESE
HAS BEEN ELECTED PRIMATE OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA

During the 37th General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, the
chief governing and legislative body Archbishop Hutchison of Montreal
was elected Primate or Presiding Bishop of the National Church. On
behalf of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate Deacon Hagop
Arslanian congratulated the Most Reverend Andrew S. Hutchison , on June
1st, 2004 he then said “Your Eminence, on this blessed occassion we
wish you good health and success in all your apostolic endeavors. Our
prayers are with you as you prepare to undertake a new challenge”.

Archbishop Hutchison has served as Bishop of the Diocese of Montreal
for the past 14 years, as Bishop Ordinary to the Canadian Forces since
1997, and as Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada
since 2002. He has been in Montreal since 1984, when he became Rector
of Christ Church Cathedral and Dean of Montreal. Prior to his arrival,
he had been active in parish ministry in the Diocese of Toronto.

In the past years, Archbishop Hutchison has been a close friend
of the Armenian Church Canadian Diocese. He has supported the many
Diocesan spiritual and cultural projects on various occasions as well
as the Armenian Cause. He was the guest speaker on April 23rd 2004,
when a Martyrs’ Prayer and Ecumenical Service were held in St Gregory
Armenian Cathedral. During his speech, dedicated to the victims of the
Armenian Genocide His Eminence lauded the Armenian Church as the most
ancient one in Christendom, and presented an overview of the historical
events of the Armenian Genocide. He then concluded by saying, “It
is important to remember, because there can be no real hope without
memory; and it is clear that we have not sufficiently remembered,
nor learnt from those dreadful events, nor from the failure of the
community of nations to respond to them appropriately. There can be no
healing, reconciliation and justice for Armenians, if the genocide is
not fully acknowledged, and responsibility for it accepted. Without
it there is no basis for the rebuilding of trust and a more secure
future in the community of nations.”

An official visit is scheduled to take place on the 15th of June, 2004.
Bishop Bagrat Galstanian will personally meet with Archbishop Andrew
Hucthison to congratulate him on his election to the highest Anglican
ecclesiastical position in Canada.

Divan of the Diocese

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress