PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; [email protected]
Website;
August 13, 2004
BISHOP BAGRAT GALSTANIAN CELEBRATES DIVINE LITURGY IN TORONTO
On Sunday, August 8, Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate of the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the
sermon in the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church of Toronto.
During the Holy Badarak, the Primate read the Encyclical (Gontag) of His
Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, whereby His Holiness announced
the bestowment of the first order Pontifical award of St. Nersess the
Shenorhali Medal to Vehamayr Ovsanna Sarkissian, the mother of Catholicos Karekin I of
blessed memory, on the occasion of Vehamayr’s 100th birthday. The centenarian
Vehamayr was unable to attend the ceremonies in the church, and both the
Encyclical (Gontag) and the medal were handed to the late Catholicos’ brother and
sister Mr. Zohrab and Ms. Yester Sarkissians.
Following the Divine Liturgy, inauguration of gifts to the church by two
devoted families was conducted. Rev. Archpriest Fr. Zareh Zargarian, Pastor of
Holy Trinity Church invited Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis Sahakian and Mr. Berdj Sevazlian
families to proceed in front of the Altar, where the benefactors received
Bishop Bagrat Galstanian’s blessings and words of gratitude. On this occasion
Bishop Galstanian highly praised the efforts of Rev Fr Zareh to further flourish
and better serve the community and the Holy Trinity Armenian Church. The
benefactors then unveiled the Primate’s throne and the special chairs they had
donated to be used by the clergy in a special section of the church. The Primate
delivered his message of the day and blessed the congregation.
* * *
ST. CATHARINE’S ARMENIAN COMMUNITY IS READY TO WELCOME THE FIRST ANNUAL
ARMENIAN YOUTH PILGRIMAGE
St Catharine’s Armenian Community is ready to welcome the participants of the
First Annual Armenian Youth Pilgrimage to St Catharine’s. Upon the directive
and instruction of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, the oldest and the
first Armenian Apostolic Church in Canada, St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian
Apostolic Church of St. Catharine’s, On., will be hosting the first Annual
Armenian Youth Pilgrimage.
The interchurch pilgrimages are the first of His Eminence’s many undertakings
to revitalize the spiritual journey of our faithful in Canada. On the
occasion of the feast of St Mary, the Holy Mother of God, pilgrims from Montreal,
Laval, Toronto and Ottawa will participate in this historic event that will take
place starting Saturday, August 14th. in the evening and continue on Sunday,
August 15th with the 74th Annual “Blessing of the Grapes” Holy Badarak and
traditional Picnic to be held in St. Catharine’s.
* * *
CANADIAN YOUTH MISSION (CYMA) PARTICIPANTS ARE BACK FROM MOTHERLAND, ARMENIA
The Canadian Youth Mission to Armenia (CYMA) participants came back from
motherland Armenia on Friday, August 6, 2004. This year CYMA members achieved
their mission in the kindergarten of Saghmosavank. The team renovated the walls,
the floor and repainted the rooms and hallways of the kindergarten.
During their stay in Armenia, a day camp gave CYMA participants the
opportunity to interact with the local children by working on arts and crafts, social
activities and sports. Visitations to the families were made by CYMA
participants and clergy, offering spiritual and humanitarian relief to families living
in dire circumstances. They also visited churches, landmarks and monuments,
including an official visit to His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All
Armenians, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Genocide Memorial, Lake Sevan, Yerevan
and other monuments. Under the guidance of local professionals, participants
took part in workshops to learn the history of the land and of the Church,
as well as the culture through singing, dancing and drawing.
Here is a bouquet of the thoughts of our participants, obtained from the
news media of Armenia.
Sevan Terjanian
This 23-year old young man lives in France. He sells fruits in a supermarket,
sings and paints. It is his first visit to the motherland.
I must live in the village
“I feel that I am a small part of Armenia. I want to stay in Armenia. Next
year I plan to come and live here for at least 2-3 years. I will not live in
Yerevan. I will live in the villages. I cannot explain why, but this is the real
life. Life in the city is not right. In France life is money, clothes,
entertainment. Here it is not that game people play. This is the real life.”
Angela Garabedian
Angela’s mother is Swedish; her father is Armenian. It was the first time
that the 25-year old lady was visiting her father’s homeland. She could not speak
Armenian. She knew only one word – “Genatset”. Her specialty is planning. She
is looking for a job.
“I have come to see the land of my dad’s forefathers, and to renovate the
kindergarten, which is what we have come for.”
Carrying from Armenia
“I am carrying beautiful memories with me from Armenia. Now I know and
understand my homeland. I thank the leaders of SYMA for having organized this
miraculous trip, and I would like also to thank the family that hosted me in their
house in Armenia.”
Vahe Mekerdoumian
18-year old Vahe has just graduated from High school and is ready to enter
university. He wants to become a historian and study the history of the Armenian
people.
Man is brother to other men
“This is my first visit to Armenia. I have traveled to many countries, though
I do not remember well the names. I loved Armenia. This is a beautiful
country. It is my country, and I like to communicate with my people. I have come and
talk to Armenians and feel good about myself, because I talk to everybody in
my own language. In Armenia a man is brother to other men.”
Money is not happiness
“Here people work hard but they are happy, because money is not happiness.
The youth here are more active, and they are concerned about their lives. They
are able to create work for themselves. They are good chess players. I like to
play chess very much. I have won a few games and have lost some.”
Alex Paylan
17-year old Alex came to Armenia because he wanted to understand the
Armenians. In Canada his family owns a business in diamonds.
The Armenians
“Armenians are very hospitable. I had a very good time in Yerevan. Here the
buildings are very beautiful and food is very delicious. Yerevan is a beautiful
city, the most beautiful city I have seen. I will return here so that I will
better understand the Armenians.”
Melanie Hadjinian
This is the second time the 20-year old Melanie visits Armenia. The first
time was to see Armenia that she had read about in books, and this second time to
find out how people live here and what are the similarities and differences
between Canada and Armenia.
“We have many similarities, but we also have differences. For example, we
speak different languages. Here in Armenia people are very close to each other.
They are very hospitable, which is absent in Canada. Over there people are cold
towards each other. Even though Canada has changed me a lot, I still believe
there are a lot of similarities.”
* * *
ARARAT SUMMER YOUTH CAMP OPENED ITS DOORS FOR 2004 PARTICIPANTS
On Monday, 9 of August 2004 the Diocesan Summer Camp opened its doors to the
participants of 2004 Ararat Camp at Woodland Trails Conservation Area. From
the very first day of his election, Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, underlining the
importance of Summer Youth Camp in the spiritual growth of our young generation,
appointed Fr. Komitas Mirzakhanyan, to form and chair the Diocesan Summer
Youth Camp Committee.
During the last months, members from the Mississauga and Toronto parishes met
several times to discuss the Diocesan Summer Camp Project. A camp search
sub-committee has been set up to continue the task of looking for appropriate
permanent camp facilities.
The Diocesan Summer Camp Committee is comprised of the following members: Fr.
Komitas Mirzakhanyan, Dr. Harry Sakarya, Dn. Vrej Berberian, Hilda Sakaloglu,
Diana Walsh, Maida Icliates, Sella Kaltakjian, Levon Kaltakjian, Paynaz
Altunyuzuk, Hagop Dokmecian, Taline Baltayan, Arno Ermarkaryan, Taleen Balian, and
Mari Marinosyan.
* * *
HOLY ETCHMIADZIN OPENS NEWLY RENOVATED SEMINARY
Last Thursday (8/5), the newly renovated Gevorkian Theological Seminary of
the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin was re-opened during a ceremony presided over
by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians. Present for the opening ceremonies were hundreds of clergy and faithful,
including Kevork and Sirvart Hovnanian, who sponsored the year-long construction
and renovation work on the historic building. (Mr. Hovnanian is chairman of
the Fund for Armenian Relief and the Armenian Church Endowment Fund.)
Speaking at the opening celebration was Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate
of the Eastern Diocese, who told of the unique role the Gevorkian Seminary
plays in the preparation of young clergymen, noting that it has an irreplaceable
duty in guaranteeing the future of the Armenian Church. Currently, more than
300 seminarians study at the school, which was founded in 1874 by Catholicos of
All Armenians Gevork IV.
(Source: Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, 8/7/04)