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Abp. Barsamian Welcomes Catholic Abp. Dolan, Orthodox Metropolitan

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  • Abp. Barsamian Welcomes Catholic Abp. Dolan, Orthodox Metropolitan

    PRESS OFFICE
    Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
    630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
    Contact: Karine Abalyan
    Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Website: www.armenianchurch.net

    September 11, 2009

    ___________________________________

    ABP. BARSAMIAN WELCOMES CATHOLIC ABP. DOLAN AND ORTHODOX METROPOLITAN JONAH
    TO N.Y., DURING ECUMENICAL GATHERING AT DIOCESE

    On Tuesday, September 8, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese
    of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), hosted an ecumenical gathering
    at the Diocesan Center to welcome two recently installed religious leaders:
    Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York, and
    Metropolitan Jonah Pauffhausen, the Orthodox Church in America's Archbishop
    of Washington and New York, and Metropolitan of All America and Canada.

    Leaders of the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox
    churches came together at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral for a prayer
    service, commemorating the Nativity of the Mother-of-God, which is observed
    on September 8, followed by a reception to honor Archbishop Dolan and
    Metropolitan Jonah.

    Guests received a brief tour of the cathedral and had an opportunity to
    engage in a discussion at the Diocesan Center and to share their visions for
    the continuing mission of the ancient Christian traditions in today's world.


    "Whether we pray to her as Theotokos, Asdvadzadzin, Our Lady, Bogoroditsa-or
    in any of her numerous names-all of us look to St. Mary as something more
    than an object to be venerated: she is, most of all, a Mother to be loved,"
    Archbishop Barsamian said. "Among the ancient, apostolic Christian churches,
    this has been our profound feeling and witness for centuries. And indeed,
    our common adoration of St. Mary is one of the things that makes us a
    unified family."

    Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America,
    delivered the invocation. He thanked Archbishop Barsamian for organizing the
    day's program and congratulated Archbishop Dolan and Metropolitan Jonah on
    their new positions.

    Archbishop Dolan was installed as the 10th Roman Catholic Archbishop of New
    York on April 15. Metropolitan Jonah was installed as the leader of the
    Orthodox Church in America on December 28, 2008.

    Archbishop Demetrios also emphasized Mary's faith and endurance in the face
    of many hardships, including the inhospitable conditions surrounding
    Christ's birth, the years she spent with her family in exile, and the
    witness she bore to the afflictions of her son later in life.

    "It's an ordeal of tremendous magnitude, and she went through that," he
    said, adding that Mary's story is "the superb example of suffering and being
    patient under all circumstances."

    The lesson is an important one in today's world, where Christian values
    often come under attack, Archbishop Demetrios said.

    Archbishop Dolan and Metropolitan Jonah spoke about the warm relationship
    among the ancient Christian churches in New York City, and in America
    generally.

    "It just strikes me that this great New York community that all of us are
    honored to serve pastorally is a reflection of the universal church," said
    Archbishop Dolan. "We see people of every language and background so
    beautifully represented in this room today."

    "To me, it is so important that we be united in our proclamation of the
    Gospel of Jesus Christ," Metropolitan Jonah said.

    William Cardinal Keeler, a long-time friend of the Eastern Diocese who has
    visited Armenia in the past decade, also addressed the gathering.

    Archbishop Barsamian presented Archbishop Dolan and Metropolitan Jonah with
    carvings of biblical scenes hand-crafted in Armenia. He also presented
    Archbishop Dolan with a pectoral cross and Metropolitan Jonah with a panagia
    on behalf of His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
    of All Armenians.

    Bishop David, the General Bishop and Patriarchal Exarch of the Coptic
    Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, presented the two honorees with
    icons.

    At the conclusion of the afternoon meeting, Metropolitan Mor Cyril Aphrem
    Karim, leader of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the Eastern United States,
    delivered a benediction asking God to bless and guide Archbishop Dolan and
    Metropolitan Jonah, and thanking Him for the opportunity to gather in a
    spirit of brotherly love.

    Also in attendance were Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Apostolic Nuncio
    and the Vatican's permanent observer to the United Nations; John Myers, the
    Roman Catholic Archbishop of Newark, N.J.; Archbishop Zacharius, leader of
    the Ethiopian Orthodox Church of America; Bishop Manuel Batakian, Apostolic
    Exarch for Armenian Catholics in the United States; as well as
    representatives of the Antioch Orthodox, the Russian Orthodox, the Bulgarian
    Orthodox, and the Serbian Orthodox churches.

    "It is a wonderful, hopeful sign that these brotherly gatherings have become
    more frequent in recent years," Archbishop Barsamian said. "After all, we
    hold the deepest things in common. We all come from ancient, apostolic
    churches. We all represent 'Old World' traditions, transplanted in the New.
    And we all strive to keep faith with the greater, timeless truths, while
    trying to advance and renew our traditions for modern living."

    Also representing the Eastern Diocese at Tuesday's event were Archbishop
    Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Diocese and President of the National Council
    of Churches; Very Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Najarian, Diocesan Vicar; Very Rev. Fr.
    Souren Chinchinian; Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of St. Vartan Cathedral;
    and Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian, director of the Mission Parish Program at the
    Diocese.

    ###

    Photos attached.

    Photo 1: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Metropolitan Jonah Pauffhausen,
    Archbishop Timothy Dolan, and Archbishop Demetrios at St. Vartan Armenian
    Cathedral.

    Photo 2: Religious leaders on the steps of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral,
    where a prayer service was held Tuesday commemorating the Nativity of the
    Mother-of-God

    Photo 3: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian presents Archbishop Dolan with a
    carving of a biblical scene hand-crafted in Armenia

    Photo 4: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian presents Archbishop Dolan with a
    pectoral cross on behalf of His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch
    and Catholicos of All Armenians.

    Photo 5: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian presents Metropolitan Jonah Pauffhausen
    with a carving of a biblical scene hand-crafted in Armenia
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