COMMUNICATIONS FROM
THE MOTHER SEE OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN
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November 22, 2005 His Holiness Karekin II and Chief Rabbi Metzger
Visit Armenian Genocide Memorial
 On November 22, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and Rabbi
Yona Metzger, Chief Rabbi of Israel, visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial and Museum of the Armenian Genocide in Yerevan.
The delegations of the Pontiff of All Armenians and the Chief Rabbi of Israel first visited the Museum, where
Rabbi Metzger offered a prayer and lit a candle in memory of the victims of the Genocide of the Armenians
during the First World War. Emerging from the museum, the two spiritual leaders led a procession to the
eternal flame within the memorial, where they placed floral wreaths and offered their prayers and respect to the memory of the 1.5 million innocent victims.
In his remarks, Rabbi Metzger spoke about the issue of recognition of the Genocide, and stated in part, "Do
not pay attention to international political arguments. We, as the leaders of our faithful communities, are obligated to remind our people about those horrendous murders and remember and keep the (victims')
memory." When asked about the term 'genocide', Rabbi Metzger stated, "Without reservation, I use that term, and
those documents and photographs that we viewed in the museum are testimonies to that tragedy. When in the museum, my breathing was smothered by my tears… No one can understand this depth of emotion as
we Jews do." As has become tradition for visiting heads of state and leaders of religious communities, at the conclusion of
the visit to Tsitsernakaberd, Rabbi Metzger and members of his delegation planted a tree on the grounds of the memorial.
The same day, the Pontiff of All Armenians and the Chief Rabbi of Israel met with Prime Minister of Armenia Andranik Margarian. The delegation of guests also visited the National Academy of Sciences and
the Matenadaran Manuscript Depository in Yerevan.
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November 4, 2005 Pontifical Order Regarding the Armenian College
and Philanthropic Academy His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, has issued a Pontifical order
whereby Mrs. Sonia John has been removed as Manager of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy of Kolkata (Calcutta), India.
His Holiness has appointed an interim School Board headed by Very Rev. Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian, a member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, to govern the activities of the school. Deacon Tigran
Baghumian will continue in his position as Administrator of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy ==========================================================================
>
>October 10, 2005
>
>His Holiness Karekin II Sends Condolences to Pakistan and India
>>
>On October 9, 2005, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
>Catholicos of All Armenians, sent letters of condolence to the leaders of
>Pakistan and India following the great earthquake which struck the region
>of Kashmir on Saturday.
>>
>Addressing his letters to President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan and Prime
>Minister Manmohan Singh of India, the Pontiff of All Armenians expressed
>his sorrow and pain for the tragic loss of life, countless casualties and
>immense property damage inflicted on their countries.
>
>In the letters, His Holiness extends the consolation and solidarity of the
>Armenian Church and people, and expresses his sincere and heartfelt wish
>that the tragedy-afflicted peoples of Pakistan and India quickly triumph
>over the tribulations and difficulties they are facing. His Holiness also
>appeals for Divine solace to comfort the hearts of all those who have
>suffered devastating losses from this tragedy.
>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >October 11, 2005
>
>Holy Etchmiadzin Ordains Nine More New Priests
>>
>During the celebration of Divine Liturgy on Sunday, September 19, nine
>deacons were anointed and ordained into the Holy Order of Priesthood by His
>Grace Bishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan Legate of the Eastern Diocese of the
>Armenian Church of America. His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
>Catholicos of All Armenians, presided during the Divine Liturgy. The
>deacons are graduates from the Accelerated Academic Course for the
>Priesthood, under the auspices of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
>
>The Accelerated Academic Course for the Priesthood was a new program
>instituted by His Holiness several years ago to select individuals with
>higher educations who wished to bring their service to the Armenian Church
>and Nation as priests. The goal of the program was to reach out to the
>rural villages and settlements that are in dire need of pastors. Among the
>graduates are economists, engineers, scientists and others specialists, who
>expressed their desire to prepare themselves for greater service to the
>Armenian Church and people.
>
>During the Liturgy, the ordaining bishop anointed the foreheads and palms
>of both hands of each new priest with Holy Chrism (Muron) and gave them new
>names.
>
>Deacon Vrej Aleksandrian became Father Hovhannes, Deacon Gurgen Margarian
>became Father Stepanos, Deacon Arushan Harutiunian became Father Sepouh,
>Deacon Vartan Ter-Mkrtchian became Father Simeon, Deacon Robert Stepanian
>became Father Mashtots, Deacon Armen Abrahamian became Father Zgon, Deacon
>Arkadi Matevosian became Father Shnork, Deacon Artak Markarian became
>Father Torgom and Deacon Hakob Ter-Barseghian became Father Gevork.
>
>"Today you are called to serve God, to serve our nation through our Church,
>and for the first time Christ will be the central focus of all your future
>activities. Priesthood is a gift from God, and you must know how to use
>that gift. Not everyone can serve as a priest, it is granted only to the
>chosen ones, before the Holy Altar of God. With Jesus Christ as the real
>shepherd, you must lead your nation on the path to eternal life. Your
>weapon must be the Gospel and the Holy Cross. Love your nation, as you
>love yourself," stated His Grace in his message congratulating encouraging
>the newly ordained priests as they commence their preaching activities and
>pastoral life.
>
>Following the traditional 40-day seclusion period of fasting, mediation and
>prayer, the new priests will celebrate their inaugural Divine Liturgies at
>churches throughout Armenia.
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