Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Karekin II to the USA – New York
His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians arrived in New Jersey on October 3rd to start the second portion of his Pontifical Visit to the Armenian Dioceses of North America.
The Armenian Pontiff was accompanied from Los Angeles by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, and members of the Pontifical entourage, Primate of the Western Diocese; His Grace Bishop Yezras Nersissian, Primate of the
Armenian Diocese of Russia and New Nakhijevan; His Grace Bishop Arshak Khachatrian, Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin; Rev. Fr. Hovnan Hakobian Staff-bearer to His Holiness; and Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian of the Catholicosate of All Armenians.His Holiness was greeted upon his arrival by His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese; His Grace Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan, Primate of the Armenian Church Diocese of Canada; His Excellency Mr. Armen Martirossian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations, Diocesan delegates, members of the local Parish Council, and church leadership along with children from the Hovnanian School and Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School.
While in New York, His Holiness attended a wide variety of events:
Ecumenical Leaders Gather To Greet His Holiness Karekin II at Special Dinner
The private dinner, hosted by the Archbishop Khajag, included Church leaders from the Antiochian Orthodox, Coptic, Episcopal, Greek Orthodox, Orthodox Church in America , Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox and Syrian Orthodox Churches , as well as leaders of the National Council of Churches of Christ and the clergy of the Eastern Diocese.
In his welcoming remarks and opening toast to His Holiness Karekin II, Archbishop Khajag praised the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians for his pastoral care and leadership of his flock in Armenian, Artsakh and the Armenian Diaspora scattered across the globe. Noting the restoration of the Church in Armenian life since the fall of the Soviet Empire, His Eminence Archbishop Barsamian declared, "We are blessed to have His Holiness Karekin II as our leader. He has shown himself to be the most successful religious leader in what had previously been the Soviet Union."
Hrashapar Service at St. Vartan Cathedral
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, visited the St. Vartan Cathedral in New York and the Diocesan Headquarters of the Eastern Diocese, for a special Hrashapar Service.
His Holiness Karekin II was greeted by children with bread and salt; and blessed the two and then dipped the bread in the salt, taking a bite as a symbol of thanksgiving for the parish welcoming him.
His Holiness was welcomed to the Cathedral by seminarians from St. Nersess Armenian Seminary and hierarchs from other denominations, including the Antiochian Orthodox, Coptic, Episcopal, Greek Orthodox, Orthodox Church in America, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox and Syrian Orthodox Churches, as well as leaders of the National Council of Churches of Christ and the clergy of the Eastern Diocese. His Holiness Karekin II, was processed into the Cathedral under the ornate Catholical canopy carried by four members of the Board of Trustees of the Diocese.
Archbishop Khajag welcomed His Holiness and spoke of the honor to have His Holiness present in the Eastern Diocese and spoke about the theme of this Pontifical Visit: A Pastoral Journey - Bringing Faith Home. His Holiness spoke to the assembled crowd of more than 1,500 worshippers, encouraging Armenian Christians to have hope in themselves and in their Church.
His Holiness thanked the Primate for the gracious reception and the airport upon his arrival. He stated that he was most pleased to see the smiling faces of the children as he departed from the plane. He thanked the Diocesan Council and all the members of the Pontifical committees who had worked to plan all of the events and activities of the visit, and thanked the faithful who were present for attending and so enthusiastically welcoming him to the Eastern Diocese.
The Service was followed by an informal reception in Diocesan Center's Kavookjian Hall.
Clergy Conference
On October 5th, completing his stay in New York, His Holiness Karekin II attended a clergy conference. Clergy from throughout the Diocese gathered at the St. Ignatius Retreat Center in Manhasset, New York to hold a day of meetings and discussions with His Holiness. Following the close of the clergy conference His Holiness and Pontifical entourage departed to Boston to attend events from October 6 through 8.
