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]
His Holiness Meets with Canadian Bible Society, Ecumenic Leaders and Youth
Montreal, Qc_ His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Catholicosate
of Cilicia met with representatives of the Canadian Bible Society and
Ecumenic Leaders at the Armenian Prelacy of Canada on the afternoon of
Monday September 26, 2005.
His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy of
Canada, presented along with His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the Untied States, the recent publication
of the New Testament and Psalms from classic Armenian to modern Armenian to
His Holiness Aram I.
Rev. Dr. Manuel Jinbashian, one of the three eminent biblical scholars who
worked on the translation of the Holy Bible from classic Armenian to modern
Armenian, presented a short history of the first biblical translation after
the Armenian alphabet was conceived 1600 years ago and of the most recent
translation.
Representing the Canadian Bible Society (CBS) and the Montreal District
Director for the CBS, Rev. Georges Legault thanked all of the efforts put
forth for this recent publication, and announced the CBS’ next venture in
Armenian: the publication of a children’s Bible in Armenian.
Also representing the CBS were Serge Rhéaume, Director of Francophone
Division, Rev. Marc Henri Vidal, as well as Adèle Brodeur, CBS Associate
Director.
Among the clergy present were Georges Zabarian of the Armenian Catholic
Church, Ven. Peter Hannen of the Anglican Diocese, Archpriest Peter Shportun
and Rev. Father Elie Touma of the St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church,
Protopresviter Stephen Smith of the Archangel Greek Orthodox Church, Mgr.
Louis Al-Dairany, Patriarchal Vicar of the Chaldéens Catholic of Montreal
and Ottawa, Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim of the Roman Catholic Church, Rev. Fr.
Kamil Ishak, Rev. Fr. Joseph Sedra and Rev. Fr. Raphael Bichara of the
Syrian Orthodox Church , Rev. Mher Khachigian of the Armenian Evangelical
Church, Rev. Georges Dabbo of the Armenian Evangelical First Church and all
clergy members of the Armenian Prelacy of Canada.
Harvey Shepherd from Montreal’s English language daily, The Gazette, also
attended the meeting after an interview with His Holiness and Rev. Dr.
Manuel Jinbashian.
His Holiness concluded the presentation by stating that as leaders and
representatives of Christianity, it is of great importance and a great feat
for all them “to stick together in the common Christian task,” all the while
preserving their own distinctive characteristics. The Ecumenical meeting
continued over a luncheon at the Montreal Armenian Community Centre.
Meeting with Youth
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia met
with the local youth later the same evening at the Armenian Community Centre
‘s Aharonian Hall for an open question and answer period.
Surrounded by His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of the
Armenian Prelacy of Canada, and His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the United States, His
Holiness attentively listened to the opening statement of Lory Hovsepian,
who succinctly but thoroughly presented the mindset of the youth towards the
church.
The Q&A session was mediated by Very Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, who briefly
touched upon different topics that interest the youth, such as freedom and
technology, and warned that freedom is good but it too needs to have its
limits in order for one to have an enriching life. With regards to
technology, Very Rev. Fr. Chiftjian left the attendants with a reflective
message: should we be controlled by technology or should we be in control of
it.
The questions posed by the attending youth were candid and varied from the
basic such as how to get young people interested in attending church to the
more complex like, premarital sex and same-sex marriages.
His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate, concluded the discourse
by thanking the youth for expressing their worries and stressed the need to
continue the dialogue together, in order to address the problems together.
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos, will be leaving for Toronto on Thursday
September 29 to continue his North American Pontifical visit.
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