Tuesday May 20, 2014 New York
On May 13, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), hosted an ecumenical gathering at the Diocesan Center in honor of His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II Karim, the former Metropolitan of the Syriac Archdiocese of the Eastern United States who was recently elected as Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church.
Leaders of the Roman Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, Episcopalian, and Eastern Orthodox churches came together at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral for a prayer service, followed by a reception to honor Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem.
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, visiting New York after having traveled to Rome, where he met with His Holiness Pope Francis, presided over the gathering.
The assembled church leaders congratulated the new Patriarch on this latest calling in his ministry, and expressed their solidarity as he embarks on leading a church that finds itself beleaguered by the conflict in Syria.
Metropolitan Tikhon, head of the Orthodox Church in America, delivered the invocation, and Archbishop Barsamian welcomed the clergy to the Diocesan Center. "It is a great pleasure for me to greet you, on this deeply meaningful occasion," he said. "This is a wonderful opportunity for us to come together, in the warm embrace of our shared Christian heritage-to give physical expression to our sense of friendship and common mission in the world today."
He went on to speak about Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem's spiritual leadership in America, and the friendship that has grown between them. "Throughout these years, I have been privileged to witness his virtues of energy, spirituality, wisdom, and humility," Archbishop Barsamian said. "He exemplifies the best qualities of the Christian heritage of the East; and he has given these virtues exemplary life and vitality here in the West."
Read the very full report online here:
Armenian Reporter:
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