ECUMENICAL PRAYER IN SUPPORT OF ARTSAKH AND ARMENIA

ECUMENICAL PRAYER IN SUPPORT OF ARTSAKH AND ARMENIA

Organized by the Armenian Interdenominational Committee of Toronto, a Vesper Prayer Service took place at the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church on Saturday, November 14, 2020, at 6:00 PM, dedicated to peace in Artsakh/Nagorno Karabagh and Armenia.

Attending the Prayer Service from sister churches were His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, the Archbishop of Toronto; His Grace Bishop Athenagoras, Titular Bishop of Patara, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada; Pastor Peter Noteboom, General Secretary – Canadian Council of Churches, Very Rev. Fr. Ammonius Guirguis (representing Bishop Mina) – St. Mark Coptic Church; Rev. Canon Philip Hobson, – Incumbent of the St. Martin-in-the-Fields Parish; Rev. Archpriest Peter Avgeropoulos, from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese; Fr. Boutros Pilibos, Coptic Prelacy of Ontario; Rev. Fr. Mark Kolosowski, Pontifical Master of Ceremonies – Catholic Archdiocese.

 

Representing the Armenian churches of Toronto were Rev. Fr. Archpriest Zareh Zargarian, Vicar of the Armenian Diocese Canada and pastor of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church; Very Rev. Fr. Vartan Tashjian, pastor of St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church; Rev. Fr. Yeghia (Elias) Kirijian, pastor of St. Gregory Armenian Catholic Church of Toronto; Rev. Yessai Sarmazian, pastor of the Armenian Evangelical Church;  Fr. Haiari Tanashian, pastor’s assistant of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church and Mr. Hagop Janbazian, Chair of the Armenian Interdenominational Committee of Toronto

On behalf of the Armenian Interdenominational Committee of Toronto, Rev. Fr. Arch. Zareh Zargarian welcomed the guests, emphasized the importance of the communal prayer and invited His Eminence Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins, the Archbishop of Toronto, who, in his sermon entreated the Armenian nation to persevere in their faith during these difficult and challenging times and trust the guidance of Almighty God.

At the end of the session all those present accompanied the clergy to the Genocide monument, where His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, and His Grace Bishop Athenagoras,  placed a wreath. A requiem service was offered to remember the young soldiers and citizens who lost their lives during the war in Artsakh.