PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Prelacy of Canada
Contact Name: Dania Ohanian
Phone: (514) 856-1200
3401 Olivar Asselin
Montreal, Qc H4J 1L5
E-mail: [email protected]
Commemorative Weekend in Honour of His Holiness Aram I
Montreal, Qc_The Armenian communities of Montreal and Laval celebrated the
Pontifical visit of His Holiness, Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian
Catholicosate of Cilicia this past weekend.
The festivities began with the official Pontifical banquet in honour of His
Holiness and His 10-year Enthronement anniversary, held at the Homenetmen
GAMK gymnasium, which was converted into a grand hall with an opulent decor
on Saturday September 24, 2005.
The banquet, which was organized by the Sourp Hagop and Sourp Kevork
churches, drew the attendance of representatives and members of all the
sister organizations and sitting at the head table with His Holiness, Aram
I, Catholicos were His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of the
Armenian Prelacy of Canada, His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardisrossian,
Prelate of the Western Armenian Prelacy of the United States, His Eminence
Archbishop Souren Kataroyan, His Excellency Ara Babian, Republic of Armenian
Ambassador to Canada, Mr. & Mrs. Krikor and Annie Kouyoumdjian (Executive
Council Chairperson), Mr. & Mrs Vagharsh and Arous Ehramdjian (ARF Central
Committee Chairperson), Dr. & Mrs. Jean and Marie-Thérèse Arakelian ( Sourp
Hagop Board of Trustees Chairperson), and Mr. & Mrs. Kevork and Maro
Toramanian (Sourp Kevork’s Chairperson).
During the banquet, Dr. Garbis Harboyan, who has known His Holiness since
his first years at the Catholicosate’s Seminary, presented the life and work
of Catholicos Aram I, before the Quator Renaissance performed a few musical
pieces for the attendants. Led by Nayirri Piloyan on violin, Amélie
Lamontagne (violin), Diana Dutz (alto) and Sophie Coderre (violoncello), the
Quator Renaissance donated their time for this special occasion.
Mr. Krikor Kouyoumdjian spoke on behalf of the Executive Council before
Honorary ‘Cilicia’ metals were presented to four community members for their
life-long dedication and work towards the community.
Rev. Fr. Karnig Koyounian introduced Mrs. Berta Minassian Heller, who was
given the “Giligian Ishkhanouhi” (Cilcia Princess) metal and Mrs. Aghavni
Eloyan, who was given a “Mesrob Mashdots” Cilicia metal. Rev. Fr. Hrair
Nicolian introduced Mrs. Azadouhi Baronian who was given a “Cilicia Asbed”
metal and His Eminence presented Dr. Jean Arakelian with a “Cilicia Asbed”
metal. The Honorary metals were bestowed to the awardees by His Holiness
Aram I, Catholicos.
His Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate, during his address
announced the generous donation from Mr. & Mrs. Dicran and Diana Hadgetian
of $75,000 towards the Catholicosate’s Seminary and $25,000 to the Sourp
Hagop Day School. Mrs. Berta Minassian Heller also donated $30,000 to the
Seminary, which celebrated its 75th anniversary this year. The Sourp Hagop
Sisterhood donated $5,000, Mrs. Osanna Zeitounian donated $5,000 to the same
fund and Mr. Vartivar Sharpanadjian pledged $2,500 a year to sponsor a
Seminary student and if that student becomes a Vartabed (Doctor of the
Church), Mr. Sharpanadjian will become his Godfather.
During His closing statement, His Holiness commended the work of His
Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy of
Canada, and presented him with a special hand cross, before concluding the
festive night by blessing the attendees.
The following day, His Holiness served Divine Liturgy at the Bon Pasteur
Catholic Church in Laval with His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Hagopian,
Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy of Canada, His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the United States, and His
Eminence Archbishop Souren Kataroyan.
Later that evening, a special presentation took place in commemoration of
the 1600th anniversary of the Armenian alphabet and the 75th anniversary of
the Catholicosate’s Seminary at the Pierre-Mercure Hall in downtown Montreal
on Sunday September 25, 2005.
Organized by the Sourp Hagop and Sourp Kevork churches and made possible by
Mrs. Bertha Minassian Heller, the commemorative show began with the
rendition of O Canada and the Armenian National Anthym on piano by Talar
Harboyan Kalloghlian.
Hosted by Lalai Manjikian, the presentation included an information video on
the Seminary and the daily lives and activities of its attendance. Narrated
by Very Reverend Father Krikor Chiftjian, the video depicted how the young
attendants are trained and educated to become future members of the clergy.
So far, the Seminary has harvested more than 500 clergymen and four
Catholicos’.
Very Reverend Father Krikor Chiftjian also took the podium and lectured the
attendees on the importance of the Seminary, which was established on
October 12, 1930, and discussed the 1600th anniversary of the Armenian
alphabet.
Hasmig Papian, a soprano with the Opéra de Montréal, performed along with
Krikor Chahvertian on piano, “Cilicia,” “Groung,” and an aria from Pucchini,
before she was called for an encore and serenaded the crowd with “Hayastan.”
Papian is in town as the lead in Bellini’s Norma.
His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy of
Canada, took the podium before inviting His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of
the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, for a closing statement.
His Holiness stated the grand importance of the Seminary and the quality of
clergymen that graduate from the Seminary asserting that “we don’t believe
in quantity but in quality. Our word is our work.”
His Holiness will be leaving for Toronto on Thursday September 29, 2005 to
continue His Pontifical visit in Ontario.
-30-