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The Catholicos Of All Armenians Karekin II To Consecrate The Hagigad

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  • The Catholicos Of All Armenians Karekin II To Consecrate The Hagigad

    THE CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS KAREKIN II TO CONSECRATE THE HAGIGADAR ARMENIAN MONASTERY IN ROMANIA

    ARMENPRESS
    27 June, 2012
    YEREVAN

    YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS: On August 12, the Hagigadar Armenian
    Monastery's 500th anniversary will be celebrated with the Catholicos
    of All Armenians Karekin II traveling from Armenia for the first time
    to Romania to consecrate it, reports Armenpress citing The Armenian
    Mirror Spectator.

    The Hagigadar Armenian Monastery built in 1512 on a hill outside of
    this Romanian town has been called a "church of miracles," known for
    its power of granting the wishes of believers, who over the centuries
    have come from all over the world to pray there. It is being completely
    restored through Romanian-born benefactors Hagop and Ica Kouyoumdjian
    of New York. "This church is a place of pilgrimage, like Lourdes
    in France. It's a place for all Christians, not just Armenians who
    ascend the hill on their knees and circle the church three times as
    they pray," stated Romania's Primate Bishop Datev Hagopian, in an
    exclusive interview recently at the Armenian Diocese in New York.

    "Every day, at least 100 people come from places like the Ukraine,
    Poland, Hungary, Moldova, and of course, Romania. In 500 years, this
    monastery of pilgrimage (oughtavayr) has never been closed for prayers,
    with Badarak celebrated every week. In the diaspora, it is the only
    vank [cathedral], except for Jerusalem, Antelias and Bolis," he noted.

    The Kouyoumdjians who were born in Romania, returned five years ago to
    visit the Armenian monasteries there. They visited the two Armenian
    monasteries in Suceava, and finding them in dilapidated condition,
    decided to renovate them "This is the only place of pilgrimage, and
    we felt that we had to do something," said Ica Kouyoumdjian. After
    receiving a "go ahead" from Karekin II, the plan was put into motion.

    Revealing the origins of the Sucheava Vank, Hagopian related that
    more than 500 years ago, the Donavag brothers who were Armenian
    businessmen, traveling to Vienna, rested on a hill and in a dream
    saw angels singing. They pledged that if they succeeded in Vienna,
    they would build a monastery on that hill outside of Suceava, which
    was the capital of Moldovia until 1564, as well as an important
    trading center with a large Armenian population, and seven Armenian
    churches. The vank was built and became a residence for nuns. "To
    make a strong connection between Armenia and the vank, a bell made
    in 1288 was brought to the church in 1512 from the Datev monastery."

    The whole church is filled with frescoes and there are three icons of
    Mother Mary, he continued. "We don't know which one of the icons is
    the one of miracles, but those worshippers whose wishes are granted
    have donated gifts of silver and bronze, some of which are hung on
    the altar icon. Others are kept in a safe, along with hundreds of
    archival materials about the Romanian Armenian community."

    This community dates from the 10th century when Armenians traveled
    from Ani to the Ukraine, to Moldova and finally settled in Romania,
    he related. "It became a small Ani." In 1401, the archbishop's chair
    was established, becoming the oldest tem in the western diaspora. In
    the 1800s, there were as many as 80,000 Armenians in Romania, mostly
    wealthy businessmen. By the late 1940s, many sold their possessions
    and left when the Communists took over, a good number going to Armenia,
    and others emigrating to the US, Canada, Australia and Argentina.

    Today, there are 18 Armenian churches and approximately 5,000 Armenians
    in Romania, mostly in the fields of art and culture. One of the most
    revered individuals in Romania has been Levon Garabed Baljian who
    was born in Bucharest in 1908, became the Catholicos of All Armenians
    Vasken I in 1955.

    Hagopian who was appointed Primate of Romania in 2010 and elevated
    to the rank of bishop during the 60th birthday ceremonies for Karekin
    II in 2011, was born in Mosul, Iraq in 1966, and ordained a celibate
    priest by Archbishop Avak Assadourian in 1993.

    He has served in Iraq, Echmiadzin, Geneva, the Netherlands, Loire
    and Lyon in France.

    His trip to New York and Los Angeles recently was for the purpose of
    making the connection with the Romanian-Armenians in America and to
    invite them for the August 12 500th anniversary celebrations of this
    revered Sucheava monastery, "a beacon on a hill."

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