PRESS OFFICE
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; adiocese@aol.com Website;

A Successful Blood Drive in Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide

On April 2nd 2004, the Diocesan Youth Council of the Armenian Holy
Apostolic Church of Canada, under the auspices of His Eminence Bishop
Bagrat Galstanian, Primate organized a Blood Drive with Hema-Quebec at
Village Montpellier shopping centre in St Laurent. This year, the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada and the faithful have decided
to commemorate the Armenian Genocide by helping those in need and the
less fortunate of the community. This is a way for Canadian Armenians
to express and to remember that despite the planned extermination of
Armenians by the Turkish Ottoman Empire during the First World War,
the Armenian people are lively present and active in today’s world.
Asked why he’s donating blood, Sari Farra, an AGBU scout said that
“our forefathers lost their blood innocently; I decided to commemorate
that loss by giving my blood for a good cause”. Hema-Quebec was very
pleased by the outcome of this event. The objective of hundred donors
was successfully reached do to generous contribution of Armenian
community members. The event was the first being organized by the
Church that will take place in the month of April. The Church is also
collecting toys in support of the Montreal’s Children Hospital and
non-perishable food items in support of “Sun Youth”.

Bishop Bagrat Galstanian’s representatives attend an ecumenical
luncheon hosted by His Eminence Andrew Hutchison

Recently, Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate of the Armenian Church
Canadian Diocese was invited to attend a luncheon hosted by the
Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada and the
Archbishop of the Anglican Churchof Montreal His Eminence Archbishop
Andrew Hutchison. On behalf of the Primate, Very Reverend Father
Ararat Kaltakjian and Dn Hagop Arslanian attended the luncheon. During
the cordial reception, discussions focused on the role andthe mission
of Christian Churches in Greater Montreal area.

Communiqué from the Supreme Spiritual Council

>From March 31 to April 2, the regular session of the Supreme
Spiritual Council convened in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin,
under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians.

With deep concern, the Supreme Spiritual Council received the news
from the Diocesan Council of the Canadian Diocese of the Armenian
Church, that the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia has
brought to its painful conclusion, the process of the establishment of
a parallel administrative structure within the region of the Canadian
Armenian Diocese, canonically comprised as part of the Pontificate of
All Armenians, in spite of the fraternal exhortations made by the
Catholicos of All Armenians and the Supreme Spiritual Council.

This move has neither justifiable explanation nor foundation
whatsoever, from ecclesiological or hierarchical perspectives, or
within the context of the unspoiled preservation of the spiritual
unanimity of the Armenian people. The issue is more than the
establishment of one more un-canonical diocese. It is the
confirmation that the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, is
not ready to reconsider its divisive spirit adopted in 1956, and in
accord withthe Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, to reestablish the
canonical status within the Armenian Church. In spite of its
assurances of being dedicated to the motto “One Nation, One Homeland,
and One Church”, the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, with
“new reorganizations” is attempting to persistently expand and to
solidify the dioceses it seized with political motivations, from the
Catholicosate of All Armenians during the years of the cold war,
deepening the division within the Armenian Church, and jeopardizing
the improved relations which began in 1988 with the Mother See.

The Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia does not desire to see
the changed circumstances prevailing in this present world or the
imperatives conditioned by the reality of the independence of the
Homeland, nor does itvalue the spirit of the new era, which proposes
the demand to reestablish and keep unspoiled the unity of the Armenian
Church and Nation.

Any attempt to breach the unanimity and unity of our people dispersed
throughout the world, which is the supreme and timeless goal of the
Armenian Church, will face the firm resolve of the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin to keep that unity unspoiled and unshaken.

Holy Etchmiadzin appeals to all faithful children of Canada and all
seized dioceses of the Mother See, stating that her paternal love
towards all is unchangeable, because regardless of under what guise
and despite referencesto “the will of the people”, (a transparent old
device used to attempt to justify such measures), undoubtedly no
nation has the desire to be in dissention.

The Mother See once again fraternally calls on the Catholicosate of
Cilicia to sound judgment, welcoming every step directed to overcoming
the discord and the reestablishment of the canonical status within the
Armenian Church, and invites her children to be zealous and unified on
the road of the settlement of disunity – a rift born from the dictates
of difficult times, and in effect for half a century. “Primacy of
Love” – here is the mystery of the supremacy of the Mother See, as it
was yesterday, as it is today, and forever.

Martyrs Prayer and Ecumenical Service will take place commemorating
the Victims of the Armenian Genocide

Under the auspices of the Primate of the Armenian Church of Canada,
His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Martyrs Prayer and Ecumenical
Service will take place at Saint Gregory the Illuminator Armenian
Cathedral of Montreal (615, Stuart; Corner Bernard-Stuart) on Friday
night April 23, 2004 commemoratingthe victims of the Armenian
Genocide.

On this occasion, Montreal Church leaders and eminent political
representatives are invited to participate and deliver their
message. The Primate of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada and the
Archbishop of the Anglican Church, His Eminence Andrew Hutchison of
Montréal will be the prime spiritual leader to deliver his message,
the representatives of Roman Catholic Cardinal of Greater Montreal,
Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Maronite, Greek Orthodox, Assyrian
and Coptic Churches will be attending the ceremony.

Bishop Galstanian will celebrate Divine Liturgy in Toronto

His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstnaian, will celebrate Divine Liturgy
on the occasion of the 89th anniversary of commemoration of the
Armenian Genocide at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church of
Toronto.

The leader of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto His Eminence
Aloysius Matthew Cardinal Ambrozic will be the prime speaker during
the ceremony. Abp of Anglican Archdiocese of Toronto Terrence Finley,
Secretary General of Canadian Council of Churches Dr Karen Hamilton,
Ecumenical representatives and politicians will be attending the
religious ceremony and the special requiem service on Saturday, April
24 at 7:00pm.

The Schedule of His Eminence Bishop Galstanian for the month of April

We hereby would like to present to the Clergy, Diocesan Council
members, Parish councils and faithful of the Armenian Holy Apostolic
Church, Dioceseof Canada the Schedule of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat
Galstanian for the month of April 2004.-

April 8- Maundy Thursday Divine Liturgy Ceremony of the washing of the
feet, khavaroom, St Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Cathedral of
Montreal.

April 9-Burial of our Lord St Gregory the Illuminator Armenian
Cathedral Montreal.

April 10- Easter Eve meeting with the Christian Education Council
Sunday School Department.

April 10- Divine Liturgy, Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Toronto

April 11- Easter (Zadik) St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral of
Montreal

April 12- Food Drive (In support of Sun Youth celebrating there “50-th
anniversary” a local charitable organization which helps less
fortunate families. Foods gathered on this occasion will be given to
Sun Youth by the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada on behalf of
Canadian Armenian community).

April 18- New Sunday, Communion and Blessing of Alex Manoogian-Armen
Quebec Armenian school, Montreal St Gregory the Illuminator Armenian
Cathedral.

April 22- Toy Drive (In support of the Montreal Children’s Hospital
celebrating “100 years of caring for Children”. Toys gathered will be
donated to Montreal Children’s Hospital. Bishop Galstanian, Clergy of
the Diocese and Youth council executive will be present).

April 23- Martyr’s Prayer and Ecumenical service commemoration of
April 24th, Armenian Genocide organized by Diocesan Youth Council and
ACYOC’s of Montreal and Laval. The key speaker will be the Archbishop
of the Anglican Church of Montreal His Eminence Archbishop Andrew
Hutchison at Saint Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Cathedral,
Montreal.

April 24- Divine Liturgy Toronto Holy Trinity Armenian Church. Toronto
Church leaders and politicians will be present on this occasion.

DIVAN OF THE DIOCESE