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PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.armenianchurch-ed.net
April 11, 2014
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EASTERN Diocese Congratulates Patriarch Ignatius APHREM II
Clergy of the Eastern Diocese were among the guests welcoming His Holiness
Ignatius Aphrem II Karim, the newly elected patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox
Church, to St. Mark's Syriac Orthodox Cathedral in Teaneck, N.J., on
Saturday, April 5.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate; Archbishop Vicken Aykazian,
the Diocese's Ecumenical Director; and the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan,
director of the Diocese's Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center, were
among those gathered to welcome Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II to the
cathedral where he has served for nearly two decades.
On March 31, the former Archbishop Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim, Metropolitan and
Patriarchal Vicar at the Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church for the
Eastern United States, became the 123rd Patriarch of Antioch and All the
East. He will serve in Damascus, Syria, where the Holy See of the Syrian
Orthodox Church is based.
At St. Mark's Cathedral, a prayer of thanksgiving was said by Patriarch
Ignatius Aphrem. He went on to speak about the plight of Christians in
Syria, and called on people to "pray for our beloved Syria to have peace
again."
The Syriac patriarch also stressed the importance of Christian unity, and
said he looks forward to working with other church leaders in the region.
"This divine calling does not come without divine help," he added.
Archbishop Barsamian delivered remarks congratulating Patriarch Ignatius
Aphrem on behalf of the Armenian Church of America. He also conveyed the
well wishes of His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians.
"You exemplify the best qualities of the Christian heritage of the East; and
you have given these virtues exemplary life and vitality here in the West,"
Archbishop Barsamian said. "I know that your experience here in America, and
your leadership on the ecumenical stage, have given you the knowledge and
ability to govern wisely in a church that now straddles the East and the
West, the ancient and the modern."
A native of Syria, Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem studied in Lebanon, Egypt, and
Ireland. During his tenure in the United States, he helped establish new
parishes, launched a youth organization, and was an active member in the
ecumenical arena.
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Throughout his ministry in the U.S., he has been a close friend of the
Eastern Diocese, frequently joining Diocesan clergy in ecumenical meetings,
in efforts to advocate on behalf of Christians in the Middle East, and in
other initiatives.
He has served on the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches, the
World Council of Churches, and the National Council of Churches in the USA.
He was also among the founding members of the ecumenical organization
Christian Churches Together, and has co-chaired the Oriental Orthodox-Roman
Catholic Consultation.
Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem succeeds His Holiness Ignatius Zakka I, who
entered his eternal rest on March 21.
Among other clergy present at Saturday's welcoming service were Metropolitan
Tikhon of the Orthodox Church in America, Archbishop Mor Titus Yeldho of the
Malankara Orthodox Church, Bishop David of the Coptic Orthodox Church, as
well as representatives of the Antiochian Orthodox and Greek Orthodox
churches.
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