Tuesday the 25th of November 2014, those who were present at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral for the Prayer service dedicated to the ordination and consecration as Bishop of Very Rev. Father Abgar Hovakimian, the Primate of the Canadian Diocese of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church, will be able to look back and say they witnessed a historical event.
This moving ceremony brought together all the sister churches of Montreal and the different denominations were represented by either the head of their church or by their representative. It was an honor to have present: Bishop Paul-Marwan Tabet of Saint Maron of Montreal, The Right Rev. Barry B. Clarke of the Anglican Diocese of Montreal, Archbishop Christian Lépine from the Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal, Very Rev. Georges Zabarian from Notre-Dame de Nareg, Armenian Catholic church of Montreal, Rev. Dr. Manuel Jinbachian, Rev. Avedis Zarifian from the Armenian Evangelical Church of Montreal, Fr. Mikhail Aziz from St. Mark Coptic orthodox church of Montreal, His Grace Bishop Alexander Moufarrej from St. Georges Antiochian Church of Montreal and His Eminence Archbishop Elia Bahi from the Syriac Orthodox Church patriarchal Vicariate of Canada. On the day our Lord Jesus Christ’s prayer in john 17:20-23 was fulfilled “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” As different members of Christ’s church came together in prayer as ONE.
From the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and representing His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians, were present His Grace Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western diocese of United States, His Grace Bishop Datev Hagopian, Primate of the Romanian Diocese and His Grace Bishop Ararat Kaltakjian. The Diocesan member churches were represented by their priests; Rev. Arch Fr. Zareh Zargarian, from Toronto, Rev. Fr. Myron Sarkissian from Missisauga, Rev. Fr. Komitas Mirzakhanyan from Laval and Very Rev. Fr. Vazgen Boyajian from Montreal who hosted the event.
The ceremony began with a procession that led the clergy members to the altar; during the service different guests from the sister churches took part with prayers and scriptural readings. His Grace Bishop Datev Hagopian transmitted the special blessing and encouragement message sent from his Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of all Armenians, Bishop Hagopyan and Bishop Havakimian have collaborated numerous years in Europe as the Primates of Romania and Bulgaria, he introduced the newly ordained bishop to the parishioners and guests saying that Bishop Abgar Hovakimian, is not a man of sole words, but a man of action, he is not a man who talks about faith but a man who lives his faith even at the cost of his person when his life is in danger. He offered a crosier to Bishop Abgar, a symbol of his new position as Primate of Canada. His Grace Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, has held the position of Primate of the Canadian diocese, his presence was warmly acclaimed by the parishioners and the faithful as a sign of gratitude for his long years of devotion and service. He also addressed words of blessing and encouraged to Bishop Abgar, then Archbishop Derderian offered a Panakeia
The newly elected primate of the Canadian Diocese thanked all the guests the official representatives, the diocesan council members and the faithful for their presence, he then acknowledged the responsibility that lies on his shoulders towards our lord Jesus Christ, towards the Armenian Apostolic church, towards the motherland and towards the people.
The service was followed by a cocktail reception in the Marie Manougian Hall. During the reception the faithful were able to congratulate the newly Ordained Bishop and receive his blessing. They were also able to view the Ordination ceremony that took place in The Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin on the 16th of November 2014.
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