PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
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June 26, 2007

His Grace Bishop Norvan Zakarian Elected First Primate
of New Armenian Diocese of France

On June 22, during a diocesan assembly convened for the newly established
unified Armenian Diocese of France, the first elections for Primate were
held in the hall of the Saint John the Baptist Armenian Cathedral of Paris. 
The assembly was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Kude Nakkashian,
Pontifical Legate to Western Europe; and chaired by Mr. Garbis Jrbashian. 
The three candidates for the post of diocesan ordinary were His Grace Bishop
Narek Shakarian, His Grace Bishop Norvan Zakarian and Very Rev. Fr. Komitas
Hovnanian.

The assembly voted by secret ballot and elected Bishop Norvan Zakarian as
Primate of the Armenian Diocese of France.  He previously served as Vicar of
the Pontifical Legate for the district of Lyon.

The new Diocese of France was established by the Encyclical of His Holiness
Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, in December 2006.   Prior to 2006,
the Armenian churches and communities of France was administered by the
Pontifical Legate of Western Europe and divided into three geographical
districts (Paris, Lyon and Marseilles).

The headquarters of the new diocese will be the Saint John the Baptist
Armenian Cathedral of Paris.  Two vicarages and 24 parish communities
currently function under the auspices of the diocese.

On June 23, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, sent a letter to the Armenian Diocese of France, ratifying the
results of the election held the previous day.  In the letter, His Holiness
states, `We confirm the election of His Grace Bishop Norvan Zakarian as
primate of the Armenian Diocese of France with our pontifical blessing, and
hereby direct that the name of the newly elected primate be remembered
during Divine Liturgies celebrated in Armenian churches within the Diocese
of France.’

His Holiness further extended his appreciation to the members of the
diocesan assembly and the diocesan council for organizing and conducting the
election of the new primate under the direction of Abp. Kude Nakkashian. 
The Armenian Pontiff expressed his confidence in the abilities of the new
primate to utilize his many years of experience and devoted efforts for the
benefit of the Armenian faithful of France and the strengthening of the
diocesan and parochial communities.