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; September 25, 2004
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BISHOP GALSTANIAN VISITS ONTARIO PARISHES
His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate, presided over several
meetings in the Province of Ontario. His Eminence accompanied by Very
Reverend Hayrik Apegha Hovhannisyan went to Toronto and met with the
Board of Trustees of Holy Cross Day School in Toronto.
In Mississauga, His Eminence met with Parish Council of Saint Vartan
Apostolic Church and discussed the current activities as well as the
future plans of the Parish in Mississauga. The Primate informed the
Parish Council members about the outcome of his visit to the Mayor of
Mississauga and asked them to work together closely in order to
achieve more success for the Parish and to create a better future for
our young generation in Saint Vartan Parish of Mississauga.
Bishop Galstanian also met with the Parish members of St Mary Armenian
Church of Hamilton and talked to them about the plans to reorganize
the Parish. His Eminence informed that once the project is complete he
will then meet with the Parishioners and discuss the possibilities to
achieve it.
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HONORING THE 2004 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES: A GREAT SUCCESS
Reporting: Talar Chichmanian
On Sunday September 19th, 2004 Armenians for Higher Education
presented certificates of achievement to over 50 high school graduates
from the Class of 2004 under the auspices of Bishop Bagrat Galstanian.
An innovative first for our community, this inaugural affair honored
Canadian Armenians graduating from any one of the high schools in the
greater Montreal and Laval areas in 2004.
Many thanks go out to the organising committee, Mr. & Mrs. Levon and
Ana Afeyan, Mrs. Maral Balian-Partamian, Ms. Talar Chichmanian and
Ms. Hilda Tursucuyan. Many thanks to Mr. Linton Garner,
representative of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Pierre Reid, and
Madame Line Beauchamp, Minister of Culture and Communications for
having taken the time to recognise this important occasion. A
heartfelt thank you as well to the students who used their free summer
months to put their hearts and energy into organising their original
community event.
The emcee of the event, Levon Afeyan, the driving force behind the
organisation, greeted the students on behalf of the organising
committee with a welcome cocktail whereby students got acquainted with
one another. Later, during the graduation ceremony, each student was
called up on stage to receive a certificate, a beautiful Bible from
Armenia as well as a commemorative T-shirt! The ceremony was followed
by a reception for all in attendance as well as a dance party for the
students. By the invitation of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian
the keynote speaker of the event was Mrs. Julia Dumanian.
During the ceremony, the students listened with rapt attention as
Julia Dumanian, CEO and President of Cambridge Memorial Hospital,
wowed parents and students with her inspirational message to always
strive for academic excellence. Her impressive educational background
and credentials coupled with her fervent enthusiasm to always reach
for the stars and never be afraid of wanting to have it all set the
perfect example for the eager and keen ears of this next generation of
strong Armenians. Mrs. Julia Dumanian’s husband Mr. Loris Dumanian is
the Chairperson of the Parish Council of St Vartan Armenian Church,
Mississauga and her sons Armen and Van serve the Holy Altar every
Sunday. Mrs Dumanian supports the mission of the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin and the Diocese of Canada.
Both Bishop Galstanian and Mrs. Dumanian stressed the fact that our
forefathers survived genocide; some came to Canada as refugees and
promptly contributed to the development and culture of their adopted
homeland much like many of the Armenian families found in Canada
today. A point alluded to by Mme Line Beauchamp for Armenians in
Quebec.
Mrs. Dumanian’s message was further cemented by Bishop Bagrat
Galstanian as he conveyed his thoughts: ‘Strive higher in life, think
broader and bigger, always forget and ignore minor, life consuming
things and always create. Do good. Help and love each other in spite
of all obstacles. In one word, be Armenians and Christians which
implies quality.’
A message all Armenians should follow.
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PRIMATE TO CELEBRATE WITH HOLY CROSS CHURCH OF LAVAL
His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate of the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of Canada, will celebrate the Feast of the Holy Cross
of Varak at Laval Parish on the occasion of its name day and the 11th
anniversary.
Bishop Galstanian will celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Sunday,
September 26, 2004 which is the Feast Day of Holy Varak and St George
the Warrior. That will be followed by a banquet marking the church’s
11th anniversary.
On Saturday night a candle light dinner is organized by the Parish
Council where political dignitaries and members of Christian Churches
will be present.
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THE CALENDAR OF DIOCESAN EVENTS FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of
Canadian Armenian Diocese the Organizing Committee has planned a
series of activities to mark this significant milestone. In the month
of October an exhibition of paintings of Montreal Armenian artists
will be held October 1-2 and 3, at St Gregory the Illuminator Armenian
cathedral in Montreal. Later that month, October 14-15-16 an Armenian
Culture Day will be celebrated in the Diocese. Both events are
dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Canadian
Armenian Diocese (for further information please see the flyers by
visiting ).
We invite our faithful of all our parishes throughout Canada to
participate in the ceremonies and in the celebrations organized on the
occasions noted in the calendar.
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NEWS FROM THE MOTHER SEE OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN
a) Seminar and Celebration Dedicated toe the 1000th anniversary of the
Getcharis Monastery: On September 18 and 19 the 1000th anniversary of
the Monastery of Getcharis located in the Diocese of Kotayk was the
subject of a seminar and religious as well as popular festivities. On
the morning of September 18, following a religious ceremony, the
Primate of the Diocese of Kotayk Bishop Arakel Karamian presided the
opening session of the seminar dedicated to the history of the
monastery. The letter of greetings and well wishes of His Holiness
Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, was read by Archbishop Mesrop
Krikorian, Legate of the Catholicos for Central Europe. Papers were
presented about this major educational and cultural center at the
height of the Bgratid Dynasty of Armenia, about the place of
Khatchatour of Getcharis in the annals of Middle age literature, and
about plans for completion of reconstruction of the monastery
complex. Also the launching of the book “Getcharis-1000” was held
during the first session.
The next day, Sunday, September 18, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated
in the cathedral of the monastery by the Primate of Kodayk, and
presided over by His Holiness the Catholicos, who later blessed all
participants of the seminar, the pilgrims from Southern Russia, and
the faithful, then decorated the benefactor Mr. Vladimir Harutyunian
by an honorary medal. Following the blessing of Madagh, festivities
began by the participation of local song and dance groups. Present
were representatives of the regional governing authorities.
b) The Ambassador of Poland was Received by the Catholicos: On
September 23, His Holioness Karekin II received the visit of Poland’s
Plenipotential and Extraordinary Ambassador to Armenia Domash
Gnodhe. His Holiness expressed pleasure in view of the close
collaboration between Armenia and Poland and also talked about the
challenges faced by churches in the modern world. Ambassador Gnodhe
vouched to do his best for further strengthening the ties of
cooperation between the two countries.
c) Conference on the Interpretation Schools of Armenia: Within the
orbit of the 1600th anniversary of the discovery of the Armenian
Alphabet, on September 22, a conference on the schools of
interpretations of the Holy Scriptures in Armenia since the early days
of Christianity was held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, with
the participation of 25 scholars from Armenia and abroad. His
Holiness Karekin II presided over the sessions. Director of the
Karekin I Theological Center Azat Pozoyan opened the conference and
spoke about the necessity of compiling and publishing the
interpretations of the Bible by our forefathers of the Armenian
Church. His Holiness blessed this initiative and stressed the
importance of introducing the rich patrimonial legacy of the Armenian
Church to our clergy, scholars and people. Bishop Yeznik Petrosian
introduced the first two volumes of the series “Library of Armenian
Intrerpretations of the Bible”. Speakers highlighted the contribution
of the Armenian interpretations of the Bible to world culture and
civilization. The concluding session of the conference was held in the
lecture hall of St. Mesrop Seminary in Oshagan.
d) Meeting with Artsakh President Arkady Ghoukassian: On September 23,
His Holiness Karekin II received in the Mother see of Holy Etchmiadzin
the visit of Arkady Ghougassian, President of Artsakh (Mountainous
Gharabagh), accompanied by the Speaker of the Parliament Olek
Yessayan, Prime MinisterAnoushavan Danielian and other high ranking
officials. His Holiness blessed the delegation and wished them success
in their mission in leading the people of Artsakh. President
Ghougassian thanked His Holiness and stated that each visit to the
Holy See invigorates him and encourages him to continue his
responsibilities with renewed enthusiasm, and invited His Holiness to
conduct His pastoral visits to Artsakh more frequently.
e) Meeting with the United Nations Supreme Council of Refugees : On
September 23, head of the UN Supreme Council of Refugees Peter Nicolau
and his assistants were received by His Holiness Karekin II. His
Holiness appreciated the efforts of the Council in helping
refugees. Mr. Nicolau informed about his office’s activities and
future plans. Opinions were exchanged about the possibility of
cooperation in this sphere between the Mother See and the UN office of
refugees.