PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
Watch the recorded video here:
artanants.wmv
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CONSECRATES THE SOURP VARTNANATS CHURCH OF NORASHEN
“LET’S BECOME A CHURCH WITH THIS CHURCH SO WE CAN ACHIEVE THE MISSION OF
THE CHURCH”
SAYS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
His Holiness Aram I consecrated the Sourp Vartanants Church of Norashen on
May 21 which became a historic day for the Armenian community of Lebanon and
particularly for the people of Bourj Hammoud.
The consecration of the newly built church formed an important part of His
Holiness’ pontifical visit to the Diocese of Lebanon, on which the
Catholicos embarked on May 19 following the invitation of Primate Bishop
Kegham Khatcherian and the Armenian national council in Lebanon.
Escorted by groups of soldiers, the Pontiff arrived to the municipality of
Bourdj Hammoud, where sheep were sacrificed and salt and bread were blessed.
His Holiness was welcomed by the Primate, the mayor of Bourdj Hammoud, the
municipality’s committee, MP Hagop Pakradouni, representatives of political
parties and the community’s structures as well as a large number of
faithful.
Led by the Homenetmen scouts’ trumpet band, His Holiness Aram I walked
towards the newly build Sourp Vartanants Church is a procession among the
cheerful claps of faithful.
Arriving to the church at 10:30, the Pontiff presided over the holy
consecration of the church. The celebrant of the Holy Mass was V. Rev. Fr.
Norayr Ashekian with the participation of the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s
“Shenorhali” choir.
The Church’s altar was washed with water and wine after which His Holiness
Aram I consecrated the top of the alter, its front, and its right and left
sides pouring Holy Chrism on it. Primate Bishop Khatcherian then consecrated
the church’s pillars in the name of the apostles, Saint John the Baptist,
and the Armenian Church’s Patron Saint, St. Gregory the Illuminator.
In a very touching moment His Holiness blessed the church, naming its
“Sourp Vartanants Yegeghetsi.” What was 16 years ago the site of a humble
church built by the hands of our predecessors, survivors of the Armenian
Genocide, now became the host of a beautiful church equipped with all the
particularities of Armenian architecture. The new church was constructed
with the generous contribution of late philanthropist Garbis Harboyan.
Priests, representatives of the Armenian community, MP Hagop Pakradouni,
former MPs and ministers and a large number of faithful attended the
consecration.
Primate Bishop Khatcherian delivered a speech after the consecration,
reminding that during his tenure, His Holiness Aram I had come up with the
idea of replacing the old Sourp Vartanants Church with a new house of
worship that would be a true expression of Armenian Architecture.
“On the occasion of Your pontifical visit we don’t want to present an
ordinary gift from a community to its Pontiff. We want to present You with
this house of God, in the planning and construction of which Your
contribution and encouragement played a definite role,” said the primate.
The Pontiff then delivered his sermon, stressing on the concept of
becoming a church through the church. He remembered the historical
circumstances leading to the construction of the church, “when the Armenian
community of Lebanon had emerged from the devastating civil war and was not
able to build such a structure in very harsh economic conditions.”
His Holiness then remembered the late philanthropist Garbis Harboyan who
kindly took on the financial obligations of building the beautiful church
and all those dedicated people “be they pastors, members of churches board
of trustees, the principals of Noubarian school or its teachers, students or
parents, who as the children of Norashen kept the Armenian spirit alive and
today enjoy the result of their work.”
Speaking about the need to gather around the church, the Pontiff
considered that participation in the church’s life is fulfilled by
contributing to its mission. “A church is not only stones and a building;
beyond these walls, a church should become a mission. God help that church
which does not grasp its life and service as such” he said.
As for the role of the Armenian Church in the life of the Armenian nation,
the Pontiff drew a comparison with other Christian nations “for whom the
church does not have the same meaning as does the Armenian Church. The
Armenian Church is the mother who has protected the children of our nation
under its shoulders throughout the storms of history; it’s the mother from
whom we are eternally born.”
“Great empires, large organizations and structures have risen and fallen
throughout history and today exist as names only. Whereas our God-founded
church has survived the floods and storms of history and continues its
mission; a mission which has always included the cultural field alongside
religious and church functions, enlightening the eyes of our nation’s
spirits and minds,” the Catholicos added.
An official banquette was organized in honor of His Holiness in the hall
of College Yegishe Manoukian after the consecration. The Primate and
representatives of the Diocese said words of gratitude and warm thanks to
His Holiness Aram I during the banquette.
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View photos here:
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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the dioceses of
the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
http://www.cathcil.org/
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Armenian.htm
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Videos/SourpV
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Pictures72.h
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Pictures73.h
http://www.cathcil.org/