A welcoming reception in honor of His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan Manougian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, was held at the Western Diocese on Wednesday, December 11, 2019. With more than 100 guests in attendance, the Hampar Family room was the venue of the welcoming reception.

Esteemed guests in attendance were Mr. Derek Ghookasian, Vice Chair of the Diocesan Council, His Grace Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Damascus, His Grace Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan, Grand Sacristan of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, members of the Board of Trustees of the Knights of St. James Mr. Ohan Garibian, Mrs. Garine Merguerian, Joseph Kanimian, Esq., Mr. Shahe Boyajian, Mr. John Tajirian, and Mr. Mashdots Jobanian.   

The Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Dean of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary and Archpriest Fr. Zareh Zargarian, Pastor of Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Toronto, represented His Grace Bishop Daniel Findikyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America and His Grace Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada, respectively. Diocesan clergy, benefactors and supporters were also in attendance.

Click on the photo below to watch an informative video about the renovations that have taken place in the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

In his remarks, the Diocesan Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian welcomed His Beatitude to the Western Diocese and highlighted the immense spiritual role of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the life of every Armenian. His Eminence also noted the bond between the Western Diocese and the Holy Land which has been solidified throughout the years through parish-led pilgrimages to the holy sites.

The Patriarch expressed his gratitude to the Primate for the warm and cordial reception and invited the esteemed guests to visit the Holy Land and to experience for themselves the spiritual enrichment of the holy sites of Christendom.

During the reception, the Patriarch conferred upon benefactor Mr. Harouritoun Ayvazian the prestigious Knight of St. James medal in recogntion of his generocity.

The reception concluded with the Patriarch’s benediction.