Pontifical Visit Media Advisory
His Holiness Karekin II
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians
Pontifical Visit of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue New York, New York 10016
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate
Pontifical Visit
Media Relations Office
Michael O’Hurley-Pitts, Ph.D.
Director
Telephone: 212.686.0710 ext. 154
Facsimile: 212.689.1934
Cellular: 212.533.0335
Sylvie Keshishian
Public Relations Director
Telephone: 212.686.0710 ext. 160
Facsimil e: 212.689.1934
PRESS RELEASE
5 October 2007
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II Celebrates
Hrashapar Service
New York, N.Y. – His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians, was present at a special Hrashapar Service at St. Vartan
Armenian Cathedral at 7:30 p.m. last night. The Hrashapar Service is one
that is traditionally celebrated by the Church involved in the arrival of
the Catholicos. This service has two meanings: one of welcome and also, on
the part of the Catholicos, a service of Thanksgiving for having reached his
destination safely and an acknowledgement of the honor being bestowed upon
him.
Children in traditional Armenian dress, seminarians from St. Nersess
Armenian Seminary () and hierarchs from other
denominations, including the Antiochian Orthodox, Coptic, Episcopal, Greek
Orthodox, Orthodox Church in America, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox and
Syrian Orthodox Churches, as well as leaders of the National Council of
Churches of Christ and the clergy of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern) welcomed His Holiness Karekin II, who entered under the
ornate Catholical canopy carried by four members of the Board of Trustees of
the Diocese.
When the faithful arrived at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, His Holiness
Karekin II was greeted by children with bread and salt; and blessed the two
and then dipped the bread in the salt, taking a bite as a symbol of
thanksgiving for the parish welcoming him. Bread and salt are life-giving
elements symbolizing humanity’s essential needs, echoing the Gospel story in
which Jesus identifies Himself as the bread of life and humanity as the salt
of the earth. The blessing recited by His Holiness Karekin II is a plea to
God to achieve meaning in life and to thank Him for His mercies. The service
itself is brief and consists of the singing of the Hymn of Pontifical
significance and the recitation of an appropriate Psalm.
His Eminence welcomed His Holiness and spoke of the honor to have His
Holiness present in the Eastern Diocese and spoke about the theme of this
Pontifical Visit: A Pastoral Journey – Bringing Faith Home. The Catholicos
is encouraging Armenian Christians to strengthen their identity through his
Pontifical Visit to the Eastern Diocese, gracing his parishioners with his
leadership and spirituality. His Holiness Karekin II spoke to the assembled
crowd of more than 1,500 worshippers, encouraging Armenian Christians to
have hope in themselves and in their Church. He also shared his gratitude
towards the Diocese and his flock.
The Service was followed by an informal reception at 8:30 p.m. which was
open to the public, free of charge and will take place at the Diocesan
Center’s Kavookjian Hall.
For more information on the Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Karekin II,
including supplemental media advisories and background papers, please visit:
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