Armenian Community Council Holds Reception in Honour of the New Primate of the United Kingdom, His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan
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On Saturday 11th of July, 2015 a Cocktail Reception was held at the Kensington Marriott Hotel, by the Armenian Community Council of the United Kingdom in honour of the newly appointed Primate of the Armenian Churches in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The Reception was attended by His Eminence Archbishop Athanasius Toma Dawod, Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church, His Eminence Archbishop Elisey of the Diocese of Sourozh of the Russian Orthodox Church, Bishop Abna Angaelos O.B.E. of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Father Meliton, representing Archbishop Gregorios of the Greek Orthodox Church and Father Tekle Mariam of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Also present was Bishop Bagrad Galstanyan who had travelled from the See of Holy Etchmiadzin to the United Kingdom to represent the Catholicos and Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II and to perform the ceremony of installation of Bishop Manukyan as Primate.
The invited guests also included the Most Reverend Aren Shaheenian, Priest in Charge of the St Yeghiche Parish Church and Reverend Shnork Baghdassarian, Vicar of the St Sarkis Parish Church and prominent members of the Armenian community of the United Kingdom and representatives from 28 Armenian organisations and political parties functioning in the United Kingdom.
The Chairman of the Armenian Community Council of the U.K., Mr Ara Palamoudian, in his welcome speech, said the British Armenians were privileged that His Holiness had chosen a well prepared clergyman to serve as Primate and congratulated Bishop Manukyan on his appointment and pledged to the new Primate the unreserved support of the Community Council. He said that he and his colleagues in the Community Council looked forward to working with the new Primate for the benefit of the Church and the British Armenian community.
The Reception was a secular precursor to the Church Service and Ceremony of Installation which took place the following day, Sunday 12th of July, 2015 at the Saint Yeghiche Armenian Church in South Kensington which was full with members of the community, and also attended by visiting clergy.
