Consecration of the Church of St. James (St. Hakop) in Gyumri
01.09.2002
On August 29, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, departed for Gyumri to consecrate the most recent house of prayer and worship - the newly built Church of St. James (St. Hakop) in the Ani district of the city. Benefactors of the Church Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis Acopian from Pennsylvania, USA, arrived in Armenia together with their children and grandchildren for this special occasion. Mr. Acopian has financed the building of the Church as a tribute to his granddaughter, Ani.
His Holiness was accompanied by Diocesan Primates, members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Acopian family and numerous guests. At the entrance to the city, His Holiness and his entourage were met and welcomed by His Grace Bishop Mikael Ajapahian, Primate of the Diocese of Shirak; Mr. Felix Piroumian, the Governor of the Region of Shirak; Mr. Vardan Ghoukassian, the Mayor of Gyumri; and representatives of regional and municipal authorities. At the entrance to the Church, Mr. John Ordway, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the USA to the Republic of Armenia, and his wife, joined the Catholicos. More than 1,000 faithful were inside the church and on the surrounding grounds to be present for the consecration and inaugural Divine Liturgy.
The Pontifical entourage entered the church under the singing of ?Hrashapar?. Following a welcoming message from Bishop Ajapahian, the consecration service commenced. The Catholicos, His Grace Bishop Navasard Ktchoyan, Vicar of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese, and His Grace Bishop Paren Avedikian, consecrated the Holy Altar, the columns, and the baptistery of the Church with Holy Chrism (Muron).
Following the service, His Holiness addressed words of pontifical blessing and congratulations to the faithful of Gyumri and the guests in attendance. His Holiness expressed his appreciation to the originators of this initiative ? Bishop Ajapahian, the Acopian family, the builders, and the faithful. His Holiness mentioned the name of the architect of the Church of St. James, the late Baghdasar Arzoumanian, Architect of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, with special appreciation. This magnificent new Church took two years to build. It has a height of 28 meters, one central dome and four belfries, and is built of Armenian pink tufa stone.
His Holiness presented the newly consecrated Church a chalice for Holy Communion with the blessings of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The Catholicos awarded Mr. and Mrs. Acopian with medals dedicated to the 1700th Anniversary of Proclamation of Christianity as the Official Religion of Armenia. His Holiness also presented a silver bas-relief of the new church to Ani Acopian, the granddaughter of the benefactor, in whose honor the Church was built.
Following the consecration, His Grace Bishop Ajapahian celebrated the inaugural Divine Liturgy in the sanctuary, and the first candles were lit in the church symbolizing the presence of the Light of God. At the conclusion of Divine Liturgy, a concert program was held in the church courtyard for the enjoyment of the faithful.
