St. Peter Armenian Church, built in Mumbai (Bombay), India in 1796, currently serves as a house of worship to not only the few remaining Armenians in the city, but also to the faithful of the Indian Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church, who use it regularly for their church services as guests of the Armenian Church.As his pontifical visit to India was nearing its conclusion, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, visited the Armenian Church named after St. Peter the Apostle on the morning of Saturday, 3 March 2007. His Eminence Geevargehse Mar Coorilos, Metropolitan of Bombay of the Malankara Orthodox Church, and a delegation of Malankara priests welcomed the arrival of His Holiness and the pontifical delegation at the entrance to the church. A procession of Armenian and Indian priests, Indian Orthodox faithful and the last three Armenians in Bombay greeted the entrance of His Holiness with the singing of hymns and the chanting of psalms.
Once inside, a ?Hrashapar? service was offered by the Armenian priests, following which His Holiness addressed his message of blessing to the gathered faithful. His Holiness offered praise and thanks to Almighty God for allowing him to visit the distant shores of India during the past ten days, and to personally witness the Armenian communities of the Far East and their legacy built throughout the previous centuries.
His Eminence Metropolitan Mar Coorilos welcomed the Pontiff of All Armenians to Bombay and extended the fraternal greetings and love of His Holiness Baselios Mar Thoma Didymos I, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan.
The Catholicos of All Armenians presented His Eminence with an episcopal panagia from Holy Etchmiadzin and commended the service of the Indian Orthodox priests to the flock entrusted to their care. His Holiness also exhorted the gathered Indian faithful to remain steadfast in their Christian faith and devoted to their holy apostolic church founded by St. Thomas the Apostle.
His Holiness was accompanied to Bombay by His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Australia and New Zealand and Pontifical Legate to the Far East; Rev. Fr. Vardan Navasardian, member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin; Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian from the Mother See and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Hakobian as Staff-bearer.
PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: +374-10-517163
Fax: +374-10-517301
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.armenianchurch.org
March 11, 2007
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: +374-10-517163
Fax: +374-10-517301
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.armenianchurch.org
March 11, 2007
I have heard of this church in India and I am very impressed.
Thank you
Razmig Norendzayan