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PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.armenianchurch-ed.net
October 21, 2011
_______________________________________________
Annual Orthodox Prayer Service Held at St. Vartan Cathedral
Members of the United Nations community and Orthodox Christians in the New
York metro area gathered for the annual Orthodox Prayer Service and
reception at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral on Tuesday, October 18.
The evening began with a procession of clergy from the cathedral plaza to
the beat of a kebero-a traditional drum used in the Ethiopian Orthodox
Church, which organized this year's service. In the narthex of the
cathedral, families and children welcomed the procession with dance and
song.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), welcomed guests and reflected on the history of the UN
Prayer Service, which was initiated in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist
attacks on America.
"We inaugurated this pan-Orthodox service 10 years ago, during a time of
darkness and uncertainty for this city," Archbishop Barsamian said. "But I
can vividly recall how the mere act of coming together on that occasion-of
sharing our hopes and sorrows with each other-had a powerful effect on
everyone present. We emerged strengthened, encouraged, re-committed to
helping our respective people through the difficulties of that time."
Turning to recent violence against Christians in the Middle East, he added:
"Tonight, we pray for our brothers and sisters all over the world, in their
hour of need. And above all, we pray to our Lord Jesus Christ, for his
strength and guidance, and for his peace-which our world so desperately
needs."
The service was led by Archbishop Abuna Zakarias, the head of the Ethiopian
Orthodox Tewahedo Church in the eastern and central United States. Other
participating church leaders included Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the
Greek Orthodox Church in America; Bishop Savas, head of the Greek Orthodox
Office of Society and Culture; and Bishop Antoun Khouri of the Antiochian
Orthodox Church.
The evening's guest speaker was Ambassador Tekeda Alemu, the permanent
representative of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United
Nations. Dr. Alemu emphasized the importance of the "collective efforts of
the United Nations community to fully realize" global peace and stability,
and noted the role of churches and other community organizations in
supporting such efforts.
Following the ambassador's remarks, Archbishop Zakarias offered a special
prayer for the Coptic community. At the conclusion of the service, a
reception was held in the Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium of the
Eastern Diocese.
Organized under the auspices of the Joint Commission of the Standing
Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Assembly of Canonical
Orthodox Bishops in North and Central Americas, the annual Prayer Service
gives Orthodox Christians an opportunity to come together for worship and to
learn more about each other's culture and heritage by engaging with
representatives from the United Nations.
###
Photo attached: Clergy of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church led a procession
from the plaza of St. Vartan Cathedral prior to the start of Tuesday's
service.
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.armenianchurch-ed.net
October 21, 2011
_______________________________________________
Annual Orthodox Prayer Service Held at St. Vartan Cathedral
Members of the United Nations community and Orthodox Christians in the New
York metro area gathered for the annual Orthodox Prayer Service and
reception at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral on Tuesday, October 18.
The evening began with a procession of clergy from the cathedral plaza to
the beat of a kebero-a traditional drum used in the Ethiopian Orthodox
Church, which organized this year's service. In the narthex of the
cathedral, families and children welcomed the procession with dance and
song.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), welcomed guests and reflected on the history of the UN
Prayer Service, which was initiated in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist
attacks on America.
"We inaugurated this pan-Orthodox service 10 years ago, during a time of
darkness and uncertainty for this city," Archbishop Barsamian said. "But I
can vividly recall how the mere act of coming together on that occasion-of
sharing our hopes and sorrows with each other-had a powerful effect on
everyone present. We emerged strengthened, encouraged, re-committed to
helping our respective people through the difficulties of that time."
Turning to recent violence against Christians in the Middle East, he added:
"Tonight, we pray for our brothers and sisters all over the world, in their
hour of need. And above all, we pray to our Lord Jesus Christ, for his
strength and guidance, and for his peace-which our world so desperately
needs."
The service was led by Archbishop Abuna Zakarias, the head of the Ethiopian
Orthodox Tewahedo Church in the eastern and central United States. Other
participating church leaders included Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the
Greek Orthodox Church in America; Bishop Savas, head of the Greek Orthodox
Office of Society and Culture; and Bishop Antoun Khouri of the Antiochian
Orthodox Church.
The evening's guest speaker was Ambassador Tekeda Alemu, the permanent
representative of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United
Nations. Dr. Alemu emphasized the importance of the "collective efforts of
the United Nations community to fully realize" global peace and stability,
and noted the role of churches and other community organizations in
supporting such efforts.
Following the ambassador's remarks, Archbishop Zakarias offered a special
prayer for the Coptic community. At the conclusion of the service, a
reception was held in the Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium of the
Eastern Diocese.
Organized under the auspices of the Joint Commission of the Standing
Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Assembly of Canonical
Orthodox Bishops in North and Central Americas, the annual Prayer Service
gives Orthodox Christians an opportunity to come together for worship and to
learn more about each other's culture and heritage by engaging with
representatives from the United Nations.
###
Photo attached: Clergy of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church led a procession
from the plaza of St. Vartan Cathedral prior to the start of Tuesday's
service.