CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS CONSECRATES NEWLY-BUILT SAINT HRIPSIME CHURCH IN BARNAUL
Noyan Tapan
Oct 24, 2008
BARNAUL, OCTOBER 24, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. At the invitation
of the Primate of the Diocese of Nor Nakhijevan and Russia Bishop
Yezras Nersisian and the Diocesan Council, the Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II on October 18 left for the
city of Barnaul, the Armenian Diocese of Nor Nakhijevan and Russia, in
order to consecrate the newly-built Armenian St Hripsime Church there.
Representatives of the local authorities headed by Barnaul mayor
Vladimir Kalganov, the deputy governor of Altay region Boris Larin,
as well as members of the Armenian community and clergymen of the
Armenian diocese met His Holiness at Barnaul Airport.
Early October 19 Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II had a meeting
with the governor of Altay region Alexander Karlin.
At noon of the same day, the consecration ceremony of St Hripsime
Church took place. The ceremony was presided over by His Holiness
Karekin II. The church’s architect is Hakob Babakhanian, it was built
under the patronage of the brothers Mkhitar and Yura Aroyan. The
foundation stone laying ceremony of the church was held as long ago as
2001 and was presided over by the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of
Russia Bishop Yezras Nersisian, while its crosses were consecrated in
November 2006. About 30 thousand Armenians currently live in Barnaul
and adjacent regions.
Numerous members of the Armenian community headed by the Chairman of
the Diocesan Council of Nor Nakhijevan and Russia Arthur Chilingarov,
as well as Barnaul mayor, officials of the regional authorities,
Bishop Maxim of Barnaul and Altay of the Russian Orthodox Church, and
representatives of the Union of Armenians in Russia met His Holiness
outside the church. Armenians from other communities of Russia had
also arrived in Barnaul to attend the consecration ceremony.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Bishop Yezras Nersisian read
the Kondaks of the Supreme Patriarch of Armenia, according to which
the benefactors of St Hripsime Church were awarded St Gregory the
Illuminator orders.
Then His Holiness planted an evergreen fir-tree in the church yard,
blessed those present and distributed small crosses brought from the
Mother See of Hole Etchmiadzin to them.
Local creative groups and those from Armenia gave a concert in the
evening.