Incense, Prayer and Blessing in the Memory of the Deceased Patriarch
17.03.2019
On March 17, the Delegation of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, attended the last rites and interment services of His Eminence Archbishop Mesrop Moutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople.
Members of the Delegation were His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Parsamyan, Pontifical Legate of Western Europe; His Eminence Archbishop Sepuh Chuljyan, Primate of the Diocese of Gougark and His Grace Bishop Arshak Khachatryan, Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
During the service Archbishop Khajag read the remarks of grief of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
REMARKS OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II, SUPREME PATRIARCH AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS ON THE OCCASION OF THE LAST RITES AND INTERMENT SERVICES OF HIS EMINENCE ARCHBISHOP MESROP MOUTAFIAN, ARMENIAN PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE
Your Eminence Archbishop Nourhan Manookian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem,
Your Eminence Archbishop Aram Ateshian, Vicar of the Patriarchate of Constantinople,
Your Eminences, Reverend Fathers,
Our dear children of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople,
Distinguished attendees,
Today, we raise our prayers to the Almighty God and send Archbishop Mesrop to his final resting place, who prematurely ended his earthly life, leaving good memories in the hearts of the faithful.
“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:5), states the Apostle about the life and death of Christ's faithful followers.
Archbishop Mesrop was the son of the Armenian community of Constantinople, was born and grew up in an Armenian family of Constantinople. With the vision of granting his life to our Holy Church and people, he entered the church life and made a covenant of service, conveying the love and devotion of his soul to the faithful. The years of honored mission of the late Archbishop Mesrop was greatly appreciated by the Armenians being under the spiritual care of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, who as an expression of respect and appreciation chose him to be the Armenian Patriarch. The late Archbishop accomplished an important service and sometimes served under difficult circumstances, investing effort and energy so that the Armenian
Patriarchate remains prosperous and the National-Ecclesiastical Life of the Patriarchate be in progress.
“There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death” (Ecclesiastes 8:8), states the Bible. Unfortunately, for a long time the Patriarch had a difficult illness and he could not continue his useful service for his faithful flock.
We are convinced that our children of the Patriarchate, jointly overcoming the pain of loss, will keep their unity, love and solidarity.
We convey our Pontifical blessings and appreciation to the clergy and devout children of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople that through love and loyalty are always connected to our Holy Church, Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and are zealous so that the Church continues to accomplish its mission in the pan-national life of our people.
From the depths of our heart we pray that All Merciful God, in His Heavenly Kingdom, accepts the soul of the late Archbishop Mesrop Moutafian.
Incense, prayer and blessings are offered to your radiant and unfading memory.
With sympathy and blessing,
KAREKIN II
CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS
