At the invitation of His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Pontifical Legate of the Armenian Church in Western Europe, and Representative of the Armenian Church to the Holy See, the Diocesan Primate His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian travelled to Belgium and the Netherlands last week. As the chairman of the Fundraising Committee of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin Archbishop Derderian sought to expand the mission and outreach of the Fundraising Committee.

In Brussels, Archbishop Derderian met with the Very Rev. Fr. Zatik Avetikyan, Pastor of the Armenian-Belgian community and Vicar of the Patriarchal Legate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Western Europe, the Parish Council and the faithful of the community. Briefing the pastor and the community about the ongoing renovation efforts of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, Archbishop Derderian called upon the faithful to take up an active role in supporting the renovation efforts, the spiritual center of the Armenian people. A fundraising committee for this purpose will be formed.

About the Armenian Community of Belgium

The Armenian community of Belgium was established in the 1930s. In 1991, a parish priest was assigned to the community. The St. Mary Magdalene Church in Brussels serves as the spiritual headquarters of the community. His Holiness Vazgen I, Catholicos of All Armenians, of Blessed Memory, consecrated the sole active Armenian Church in Belgium in 1990. In 2009, the Very Rev. Fr. Zatik Avetikyan was assigned as the pastor of the community.

Pastoral Visit to Amsterdam, the Netherlands

On Saturday, November 23, 2019, the Diocesan Primate His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, travelled to Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, where a community reception was organized to benefit the renovation efforts of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. Archbishop Derderian, who accompanied by Archbishop Barsamian, met with the Rev. Fr. Taron Tadevosyan, Pastor of the Armenian-Dutch community and briefed the community about the colossal renovation project in Holy Etchmiadzin.  

On the following day, in celebration of the 30^th anniversary of the reopening of Holy Spirit (Surb Hogi) Armenian Church of Amsterdam, the Diocesan Primate Archbishop Derderian celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon.

Primate's Message: The Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin

Among the dignitaries in attendance were His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Pontifical Legate of the Armenian Church in Western Europe, and Representative of the Armenian Church to the Holy See, His Excellency Tigran Balayan, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and a large number of faithful.