Sunday June 12, was a bitter sweet occasion for the Armenian community of St. Mesrob Parish in Ottawa. The community was present in large numbers to bid farewell to our much respected visiting parish pastor Der Myron Sarkissian upon his appointment to the St. Vartan Parish in Mississauga.
The faithful filled the Church for the final official Soorp Badarak in Ottawa, officiated by Der Myron. The choir and the congregation joined together to sing our Holy Liturgy and commemorate this special day. As we have come to appreciate, Der Myron gave an inspiring sermon, an aspect of our Church services that the community will certainly miss. Immediately following the service, prior to the congregation leaving the Church, a short ceremony of well wishing and gift gifting took place before the Holy Alter. The Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, the Parish Council of St. Mesrob Church, the Ottawa Choir, and Sevan Chapter of HOM, the Armenian Cultural Association of Ottawa, and many individual community members expressed messages of their respect and appreciation. Der Myron is held in high esteem throughout the community and received gifts as tokens of remembrance from the local organizations and members of the community. The St. Mesrob Ottawa community sincerely acknowledges and appreciates Der Myron’s tireless efforts in the service of the Ottawa Armenian community through the years.
Der Myron respectfully thanked all the organizations and community members in the parish. The celebration continued with a dinner in Der Myron’s honor held in the Church Hall prepared by the Parish Council with the participation of the community.
We wish Der Myron and his family all our best as they embark on their new lives and mission serving the Mississauga community and we look forward to future opportunities to meet and work together in the life of the Armenian Church in Canada.
