Pilgrims from the Armenian Diocese of Canada in the Mother See
26.11.2003
On Sunday, October 26, the Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross, pilgrims from the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada arrived in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Led by their Diocesan Primate, His Grace Bishop Bagrat Galsdanian, the Canadian-Armenian faithful came to participate in their "Divine Liturgy of Oath", dedicated the 1,700th Anniversary of the consecration of the Mother Cathedral of All Armenians. His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided during the solemn liturgy. In attendance were more than 30 bishops of the Armenian Church who were in the Mother See to participate in the Conference of Bishops later in the week.
Very Rev. Fr. Arshak Khachatrian, Chancellor of the Mother See, welcomed the guests and the pilgrims on behalf of the Catholicos of All Armenians and the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin. His Grace Bishop Bagrat Galsdanian delivered his message of the day to the faithful, noting:
"Today, for us Armenian faithful living in Canada, it is once again the Discovery of the Holy Cross. Our presence here today is a discovery of the Cross, in the sense that we have come with our love and bring our loyalty to Holy Etchmiadzin. We take back with us that same love from Holy Etchmiadzin. Today we are pilgrims who have come to our land, to the land of our forefathers, to once again kiss this soil, and once more to make Christ descend on this land through us, and to again call this sanctuary 'the Cathedral of the Descent of the Only Begotten'. We are pilgrims who have come to express our loyalty to our Armenian Holy Mother See, to express and state that we believe in the truth of Etchmiadzin, and her victorious reality, which today is made real through us. We have come also as pilgrims to blend together with our soil, water and bread, and with our brothers and sisters - our beloved people who live in this land, and to receive strength; and to walk on this land in the footsteps of God, the proof of each trace is a cathedral and sanctuary. We have come not only to walk, but also leave a portion of our heart in this place, sealing this place, and having done so, to return to our home - Canada, having believed in our one true home - Armenia and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin."
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a solemn Repose of Souls service was held in memory of those slain in the National Assembly on October 27, 1999: Prime Minister Vazgen Sargisian, National Assembly President Karen Demirchian, Yuri Bakhshian, Ruben Miroyan, Henrik Abrahamian, Armenak Armenakian, Mikael Kotanian, and Leonard Petrosian. His Holiness Karekin II presided during the requiem service.
