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;
ON THE OCCASSION OF THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CANADIAN ARMENIAN
DIOCESE PILGRIMAGE TO STE. ANNE DE BAUPRE
Among the many events celebrating the 20th anniversary of the
establishment of the Canadian Armenian Church Diocese, perhaps the
most significant and memorable could be considered the three-day
pilgrimage on the weekend of July 9-11 to Quebec City’s Ste. Anne de
Baupre Shrine. This was the initiative of Rev. Fr. Zareh Avak Kahana
Zargarian, Pastor of Toronto’s Holy Trinity Church, and organized by
the Church’s Christian Education Council, under the auspices of His
Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate.
In the afternoon of July 9, about 150 pilgrims arrived from Toronto to
Montreal, where they were greeted and welcomed by Rev. Fr. Vazken
Boyadjian, Pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. After a
brief rest, they visited two famous Montreal landmarks – the
St. Joseph’s Oratory and Notre Dame Basilica – where the pilgrims
prayed jointly, then retired for the night in high spirits.
The next morning, some 120 pilgrims from Montreal’s St. Gregory the
Illuminator and Laval’s Holy Cross Churches joined the Toronto group
and the caravan of busses carrying close to 270 pilgrims headed
towards Quebec City, after the blessings and prayers of the Primate,
Rev. Fr. Hayrig Apegha Hovhannisian, Rev. Archpriest Fr. Zareh
Zargarian and guest visitor Rev. Fr. Zaven Avak Kahana
Arzoumanian. The three-hour pleasant journey was marked by religious,
national and popular songs all the way to Quebec City. Upon arrival to
Ste. Anne De Baupre Shrine, the pilgrims were welcomed by the
sacristan of the Shrine Fr. Pallette. The Divine Liturgy was
celebrated on the main altar by the Primate, assisted by
Rev. Fr. Hayrig and Rev. Fr. Zareh. The Altar servers were the young
Deacons and Sub-deacons of Holy Trinity led by senior deacons Nourhan
Ipekjian and Ara Anmahouni. The choir of Holy Trinity conducted by
Mr. Hagop Deukmedjian sang harmoniously throughout the ceremonies,
highly impressing the attending large number of both Armenian and
non-Armenian faithful, who were also joined by the small Armenian
community of Quebec City. It was the first time that Armenian Badarak
was being celebrated in the magnificent Shrine. Darius Gumushian, 21,
says “I am now a pilgrim. Becoming one has taken me to the depths of
Quebec to huge cathedrals that could only be found in books or
television. Here I learned to take nothing for granted and that we are
not only God fearing community on earth. Rethinking with our
counterparts in Montreal and Quebec City is always a good
thing. However, more importantly, the spiritual aspect is most
important by performing the Holy Badarak in other Churches. I believe
we all bonded well and I cannot wait to return to Toronto to share our
experiences with others”.
Following lunch the pilgrims had a tour of the old city and arrived in
Montreal to be hosted to a wonderful and warm reception in Laval, by
the Holy Cross Church. A joyous program extending into the late night
kept everybody in high spirits. “Before coming to the pilgrimage I did
not understand the reason I was going, but now when we have performed
mass at the beautiful churches it felt different. Spiritually, I felt
very good” Saro Sahagian, 19.
On Sunday morning, pilgrims assembled in St. Gregory the Illuminator
Cathedral, where the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Rev. Archpriest
Fr. Zareh Zargarian, assisted by Rev. Fr. Vazken Boyadjian. The altar
servers and the choir singers were from Toronto’s Holy Trinity. Before
the sermon, Fr. Boyadjian welcomed the pilgrims and Fr. Zareh, who had
been the pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator for seven years before
moving to Toronto, said in his sermon that this pilgrimage was a
reaffirmation of our faith in God and in the Mother See of the
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church in Etchmiadzin. In appreciation of the
Primate’s dynamism, Fr. Zargarian presented His Eminence with a
decorative cross as a memory from this historic pilgrimage. Bishop
Galstanian in turn thanked all and presented Fr. Zargarian with an
antique chest cross, wishing him strength and good health in his
mission of service to the church and to our people. “The pilgrimage
to Montreal was very enlightening. I was very surprised by the impact
I received spiritually after this historical event. It was a great
honor for me to be able to celebrate Holy Mass at the Cathedral in
Montreal. The pilgrimage rejoiced and recharged my soul which will
last me through the hardships o this world” says sub-deacon Mher
Torossian, 20.
Following the ceremonies, upon the directive of His Holiness the
Catholicos of All Armenians, prayers for the repose of the souls of
benefactors Alex and Marie Manoogians were conducted. The congregation
then assembled in the Church’s Marie Manoogian hall where a luncheon
was served by the Parish Council and the Ladies’
Auxiliary. Rev. Fr. Zaven Arzoumanian welcomed the pilgrims and
praised the organizers as well as the participants for a unique type
of event to commemorate the Diocese’s 20th anniversary. Fr. Boyadjian
thanked once again the young deacons and presented each one of them
with the Church’s emblem. “I think that this pilgrimage is very
special, because there is a difference in doing the Holy Masses where
we did because there is a history and I really enjoyed it” Haigaz
Mirzoyan, 23.
The gathering ended by Fr. Hayrig’s blessings, and the pilgrims went
up to the Diocesan quarters to receive the Primate’s blessings before
departing for Toronto.
Indeed this has been a weekend full of spiritual revival and joy for
the pilgrims and for the clergy alike.
Department of Christian Education
Information Office