AZG Armenian Daily #084, 11/05/2005

Church

ARCHBISHOP NSHAN GARAKEHEYAN APPOINTED NEW HEAD OF CATHOLIC ARMENIANS IN
ARMENIA, GEORGIA AND EASTERN EUROPE

There are 200.000 Armenian Catholics in Armenia and Javakhk (Georgia) today.
The Catholic diocese of Armenia, Georgia and Eastern Europe reopened in 1991
after the break in Soviet era. Archbishop Nerses Ter-Nersesian, member of
Mkhitarist Congregation of Venice, has spearheaded the diocese all these
years. But not long ago before his death, Pope John-Paul II replaced
Ter-Nersisian because of his age and appointed Archbishop Nshan Garakeheyan.
Inaugural ceremony took place last Sunday, 8 May, at St. Gregory the
Illuminator of Arevik village of Shirak region.

The ceremony hosted many guests from Gyumri, Lori, Tavush, and Javakhk.
Vatican’s envoy Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti and the head of Shirak diocese of
Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian took part in the
ceremony as well.

The last 4 of 45 years of service Archbishop Garakeheyan spent as head of
Armenian Catholic diocese in Iran. “I came to serve you, the Lord and our
beloved fatherland – Armenia”, he said to the crowd.

By Gegham Mkrtchian