Divine Liturgy in the 350-year-old St. John Karapet Church in Crete
05.05.2019
On May 5, the second day of the Patriarchal Visit to Crete (Greece), His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; offered a Divine Liturgy in the St. John Karapet Armenian Church in Heraklion.
In front of the Church and under the singing of the “Hrashapar”, the Armenian community welcomed the Catholicos of All Armenians with the traditional salt and bread service, following which His Holiness conveyed his blessings to the attending faithful.
Following the subsequent preparation, the procession led the Catholicos of All Armenians to the temple. His Holiness blessed the attendees with the relic cross of St. John the Baptist.
His Eminence Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, Patriarchal Vicar of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople and His Eminence Archbishop Yeznik Petrosyan, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Armenia, assisted His Holiness during the Divine Liturgy.
The Divine Liturgy was attended by Mr. Markos Bolaris, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece; Representatives of Archbishop Irenaeus of Crete, Provincial Governorate of Crete and Heraklion city authorities, servants of other churches, members of the Armenian Community of Crete and the Church Board, numerous pilgrims from Athens, Constantinople and Moscow.
During the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness Karekin II conveyed his blessings to the attending faithful and stated in part: "We praise the Almighty for meeting the faithful children of our Holy Church and to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the St. John Karepat church with you. The Church jubilee is a great event for all of us. On this glorious occasion we convey our Pontifical blessings and congratulations and the light and blessings of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. It is symbolic that today our Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Sunday of the World Church or the Green Sunday. It commemorates the first Church of Jerusalem, established by Christ.
The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ became the beginning of the spreading of the Church's victory and the Savior's doctrine in the world, through which Christians endured many hardships and sufferings but kept the light of faith indefinitely, lightened the world through it and invited the mankind to inherit the eternal life and the Kingdom of Heaven.
Sanctuaries were rebuilt and churches were built in Armenian communities established in different countries around the world, the prayer and Armenian language and speech were sounded and according to Apostle Paul: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Dear faithful, it is you that in the new age by the example of your fathers and the spirit of love and union, under the auspices of our Church continue to keep the national-ecclesiastical life awake. With this small community but a strong faith you are a part of the Armenian national-ecclesiastical life and it is very important that you continue with the same zealous spirit in the way that your fathers did."
The Catholicos of All Armenians urged to notice the 350th anniversary of the establishment of the church a new beginning to renew their covenant of faithfulness to God.
On this joyous occasion, His Holiness extended his appreciation to His Eminence Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, under whose care is the pastorate of Crete; as well as to His Eminence Archbishop Yeznik and His Eminence Archbishop Yezras Nersisyan, Primate of the Diocese of Russia and New Nakhichevan; Rev. Fr. Khoren Arakelyan, Vicar of the Armenian Diocese of Greece; Chairman of the Church board Mr. Antonis Benard and members.
His Holiness expressed his congratulations to the Armenians living in Crete on this remarkable jubilee, wishing them love, happiness and strenght.
The Catholicos of All Armenians also expressed his appreciation to the Greek authorities, as well as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Markos Bolaris and representatives of the Archbishop of Crete, the governor's office and the municipality for the warm welcome, kindness and support displayed towards our people and the assitance for the jubilee events.
During the Divine Liturgy the faithful Armenians had the opportunity to kiss the relic cross of St. Hovhannes Karapet.
Following the Divine Liturgy, the Cross-stone Blessing service was held, which was presented to the church by His Holiness Karekin II on the occasion of the anniversary.
His Holiness blessed the cross-stone withe the Holy Muron, following which he once again conveyed his congratulations and blessing to the Armenian community of Crete and the attending pilgrims.
On the same day at the hotel "Aquila Atlantis" the community hosted an official dinner in honor of the Catholicos of All Armenians.
The Catholicos of All Armenians also had meetings with me. Markos Bolaris and pilgrims arriving in Crete on the occasion of the celebrations.
