Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

Mourning Spiritual Brothers and Pious Faithful,

On this sad day, We raise Our prayer to God for the rest and peace of the soul of the late Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem; His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian.

"Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life"

These words of Our Lord bring to every believer the joyous words of eternal life, which live with deep faith and the spirit of love towards Jesus by serving people and His nations with good and righteous deeds. The life of Patriarch Torkom, of Blessed Memory, passed with immense devotion and unlimited tiredness towards All Mighty God and his people.

Until his death, the Patriarch remained loyal to his mission and calling - the sacrament towards the Church and His people - with which, according to the words of the Lord, he will receive the crown of eternal life in blissful dwellings.

Dear faithful sons and daughters, today, when our hearts are filled with sorrow and mourning at this moment of the passing of our beloved Patriarch, we believe that His soul soars with joy to the Savior Jesus Christ and will be introduced to eternal life in the heavenly dwellings in front of God, as evidenced by these words: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)

At this moment we carry the warm memories of His Beatitude in our soul and in our vision we see the path of His diligent life. The spirit of the Patriarch of Blessed Memory as a religious leader was molded into the St. James Seminary of Jerusalem.

In his youth at the age of twenty, Patriarch Torkom, of Blessed Memory, was ordained as a celibate priest in the Armenian Apostolic Church in the St. James Cathedral, which contains the relics of the Apostle.

More than seven decades ago, His Eminence started his service in the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem filled with the spirit of patriotism and love for his nation, then served as the Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, and then as the Primate of the Eastern Diocese of North America. Having been elected as the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, Patriarch Torkom, of Blessed Memory, returned to his spiritual birthplace, where for decades with his courageous and eminent soul, he spared no efforts and energy for the benefit of building the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem, and protecting our cherished sanctuaries.

"…for our days on earth are a shadow", - says the blessed Job (Job 8:9) affirming that life is not eternal but short, compared to that of eternity.

The mission of Patriarch Torkom, however, has been the light in our nation's spiritual and religious life, and left its luminous path for the history of the Church and the kind memory of our faithful. Multiple Armenian pilgrims from the Homeland and other countries of our world, who after visiting Jerusalem, the place of Holy worship, to receive consolation from the sweet and blessed words of the Patriarch; strengthened in their faith, decorated the path of life with God-pleasing deeds, full of God’s graces.

Today the book on the earthly life of the late Patriarch Torkom Manoogian has closed, but he continues speaking to us through his books, collections of poems, dissertations and translations, meditations and thesis. These overwhelmed his soul with deep faith and encouraged his readers with unlimited devotion to seek kindness, justice, honesty, and national sacred values.

Dear beloved, asking the Holy Spirit for comfort graces us all, and we extend our words of encouragement to the members of the Brotherhood of St. James, who are the dedicated protectors of this Holy See and our sanctuaries. Let the will of the All Mighty always support you so that through the example of His Beatitude’s zealous service of long years, you will enjoy the glory and pride of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and keep, with the support of sky scraping brightness, the Brotherhood of St. James by efforts of prayers bringing All Armenians to the spiritual structure and progress of the spiritual life.

From the bottom of our hearts we pray to All Mighty God to accept in his dwellings with sweetness, and rank him among the blessed saints, the soul of His diligent and faithful servant His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, of Blessed Memory, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem; and give consolation to all faithful Armenians. Light, prayers and blessings to the memory of our beloved Patriarch Torkom, of Blessed Memory.

"Let the Lord remember the soul of His servant and shine light on his face. Amen."

With Sorrowful Love and Blessings:
KAREKIN II,
CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS