Armenian Church hosts ecumenical gathering

(Armenian) - On Tuesday, September 8, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), hosted an ecumenical gathering at the Diocesan Center to welcome two recently installed religious leaders: Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York, and Metropolitan Jonah Pauffhausen, the Orthodox Church in America's Archbishop of Washington and New York, and Metropolitan of All America and Canada.

Leaders of the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox churches came together at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral for a prayer service, commemorating the Nativity of the Mother-of-God, which is observed on September 8, followed by a reception to honor Archbishop Dolan and Metropolitan Jonah.

Guests received a brief tour of the cathedral and had an opportunity to engage in a discussion at the Diocesan Center and to share their visions for the continuing mission of the ancient Christian traditions in today's world.

“Whether we pray to her as Theotokos, Asdvadzadzin, Our Lady, Bogoroditsa—or in any of her numerous names—all of us look to St. Mary as something more than an object to be venerated: she is, most of all, a Mother to be loved,” Archbishop Barsamian said. “Among the ancient, apostolic Christian churches, this has been our profound feeling and witness for centuries. And indeed, our common adoration of St. Mary is one of the things that makes us a unified family.”

Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, delivered the invocation. He thanked Archbishop Barsamian for organizing the day’s program and congratulated Archbishop Dolan and Metropolitan Jonah on their new positions.

Archbishop Dolan was installed as the 10th Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York on April 15. Metropolitan Jonah was installed as the leader of the Orthodox Church in America on December 28, 2008.

Archbishop Demetrios also emphasized Mary’s faith and endurance in the face of many hardships, including the inhospitable conditions surrounding Christ’s birth, the years she spent with her family in exile, and the witness she bore to the afflictions of her son later in life.

“It’s an ordeal of tremendous magnitude, and she went through that,” he said, adding that Mary’s story is “the superb example of suffering and being patient under all circumstances.”

The lesson is an important one in today’s world, where Christian values often come under attack, Archbishop Demetrios said.

Archbishop Dolan and Metropolitan Jonah spoke about the warm relationship among the ancient Christian churches in New York City, and in America generally.

“It just strikes me that this great New York community that all of us are honored to serve pastorally is a reflection of the universal church,” said Archbishop Dolan. “We see people of every language and background so beautifully represented in this room today.”

“To me, it is so important that we be united in our proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” Metropolitan Jonah said.

William Cardinal Keeler, a long-time friend of the Eastern Diocese who has visited Armenia in the past decade, also addressed the gathering.

Archbishop Barsamian presented Archbishop Dolan and Metropolitan Jonah with carvings of biblical scenes hand-crafted in Armenia. He also presented Archbishop Dolan with a pectoral cross and Metropolitan Jonah with a panagia on behalf of His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

Bishop David, the General Bishop and Patriarchal Exarch of the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, presented the two honorees with icons.

At the conclusion of the afternoon meeting, Metropolitan Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim, leader of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the Eastern United States, delivered a benediction asking God to bless and guide Archbishop Dolan and Metropolitan Jonah, and thanking Him for the opportunity to gather in a spirit of brotherly love.

Also in attendance were Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Apostolic Nuncio and the Vatican’s permanent observer to the United Nations; John Myers, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Newark, N.J.; Archbishop Zacharius, leader of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church of America; Bishop Manuel Batakian, Apostolic Exarch for Armenian Catholics in the United States; as well as representatives of the Antioch Orthodox, the Russian Orthodox, the Bulgarian Orthodox, and the Serbian Orthodox churches.

“It is a wonderful, hopeful sign that these brotherly gatherings have become more frequent in recent years,” Archbishop Barsamian said. “After all, we hold the deepest things in common. We all come from ancient, apostolic churches. We all represent ‘Old World’ traditions, transplanted in the New. And we all strive to keep faith with the greater, timeless truths, while trying to advance and renew our traditions for modern living.”

Also representing the Eastern Diocese at Tuesday’s event were Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Diocese and President of the National Council of Churches; Very Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Najarian, Diocesan Vicar; Very Rev. Fr. Souren Chinchinian; Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of St. Vartan Cathedral; and Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian, director of the Mission Parish Program at the Diocese.