The process of canonization of the victims of the Armenian Genocide by the Armenian Apostolic Church has reached its final stage. In a conversation with "Armenpress", this was stated by the Head of Armenian Church Social Doctrine Department at Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan. "The Canonization Committee has made a lot of deep, detailed and comprehensive preparations in that direction. Now we have reached the final stage, when the icons are being prepared, there was a proposal to scrap a church hymn.
Church to canonize innocent victims of Armenian Genocide on 100th anniversary
The process of canonization of the victims of the Armenian Genocide by the Armenian Apostolic Church has reached its final stage. In a conversation with "Armenpress", this was stated by the Head of Armenian Church Social Doctrine Department at Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan. "The Canonization Committee has made a lot of deep, detailed and comprehensive preparations in that direction. Now we have reached the final stage, when the icons are being prepared, there was a proposal to scrap a church hymn.
Soon we will have joint committee meeting and this process will be more certain. Our aim is to declare them saints on April 24, 2015, and not to serve a requiem for our great martyrs, but to appeal for intercession” – said His Grace.
From January 27 through 29, under the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; the Canonization Committee of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church was convened in the Mother Cathedral of the Great House of Cilicia.
Prior to the meeting, the members of the Canonization Committee met with His Holiness Aram I, receiving His fatherly blessings and appreciation for their efforts.
The meeting was opened with the Lord’s Prayer and a special prayer was recited for the repose of souls of the Armenian Genocide victims.
Present at the meeting were His Eminence Archbishop Sepuh Sargsyan (Co-chairman); His Grace Bishop Arshak Khatchatrian (Co-chairman); His Eminence Archbishop Varujan Herkelyan; His Eminence Archbishop Mushegh Martirosyan; His Grace Bishop Mikael Ajapahian; His Grace Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan; His Grace Bishop Anushavan Danielyan; His Grace Bishop Babgen Charyan; His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhannisyan; Rev. Fr. Zakaria Baghumyan and Rev. Fr. Vahrij Gharakhanyan.
During the meeting they discussed and made decisions on canonization conditions, service, canon of hymns devoted to the Genocide victims, the service and date of the liturgical commemoration, as well as issues relating to the preparation of their relics and icons. The committee also made an agreement to complete the whole canonization process in 2015. Appropriate assignments were made in this regards. The meeting was closed with prayers.
The next meeting of the Canonization Committee will be convened from May 25 through 30, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
