HIS GRACE BISHOP NORVAN ZAKARIAN ELECTED FIRST PRIMATE OF NEW ARMENIAN DIOCESE OF FRANCE
ArmRadio.am
27.06.2007 11:50
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.
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.