PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont-Quebec H2V 3H2
Contact: Deacon Hagop Arslanian,
Tel: 514-276-9479
Fax: 514-276-9960
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Fri, Jun 6 2008
Bishop Galstanian re-elected Primate of the Armenian Church Canadian
Diocese
The 25th Diocesan Annual Assembly was held on the weekend of May 30-June
1, 2008 hosted by Saint Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Cathedral of
Montreal. The Clergy of the Diocese, Diocesan Council, Diocesan Delegates,
Parish Council members and Women’s Guild Central Council participated in
the weekend long meetings, discussing the future plans and projects of the
Diocese.
The election of the Primate was held in accordance with the By-Laws of the
Canadian Armenian Diocese, and the voting proceeded from the prepared
election slates. It is with joy that we announce the re-election of His
Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian as Primate of the Canadian Armenian
Diocese for a second term.
The solemn procession of the Pastors and the Komitas Choir of St. Gregory
the Illuminator Cathedral singing the victorious hymn "Hrashapar" ushered
His Eminence into the sanctuary, resplendent in golden and crimson
embroidered robes and surrounded by the Clergy, Deacons and Acolytes.
After a short worship service the Primate delivered his passionate
message.
In his address, Bishop Galstanian expressed gratitude to the Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians and prayed the Almighty for the
good health of the Holy Father and the well-being of the Brotherhood of
Holy Etchmiadzin. Serpazan Hayr also thanked the Diocesan Clergy, Diocesan
Council and delegates as well as the faithful who had come to congratulate
him upon his re-election. His Eminence urged the faithful to remain
steadfast in their faith to the Armenian Church and to the spiritually
enriched Armenian identity.
Following the prayer service all present assembled for a group photo
commemorating the 25th Diocesan Assembly. Bishop Galstanian then hosted a
cocktail reception in the Diocese located in the church building.
* * *
BIOGRAPHY:
Bishop Bagrat Galstanian was born in Gyumri, Armenia, on May 20, 1971, and
was given the name, Vazgen, at his baptism. Having attended the Gevorgyan
Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin, in Armenia, he received the ordination of
deacon, in 1993 from Bishop Anania Arabajyan. In 1995 he received
excellent mark for his thesis on "The Commendatory and Theology of Khosrov
of Andzrev on Daily Prayers of our Church." The same year, late Catholicos
of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin I, ordained Vazgen a celibate
priest, in the name of Archbishop Bagrat Vardazarian, who had been
martyred in 1937 repressions.
In 1995, while holding the position as director of St. Gregory the
Illuminator Sunday of School in Holy Etchmiadzin, Bishop Bagrat was
appointed as vice-president of the newly established Centre of Christian
Education and Preaching. During this period, his responsibilities included
the teaching of the Holy Liturgy, Church History and Theology and Armenian
Church hymns, in the Gevorgyan and Vazgenyan Seminaries in Armenia.
In 1996, he became editor in chief of, "Etchmiadzin" a monthly official
publication of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Also, he was involved
in the preparation of religious teachers in five regions of Armenia
through the Christian Education and Preaching Centre. These included the
American University in Yerevan, and in the regions of Etchmiadzin,
Armavir, Masis, Artashat, and Aparan. He was one of the founding members
of "Gantegh" religious television programming.
During the years of 1996 to 1998, in his role as secretary, Bishop Bagrat
assisted His Holiness Karekin I, in His Pontifical visits to South
America, Moscow, U.K., and Austria. In Austria, he participated, as a
delegate, in the second Council of European Churches in Grats.
On the recommendation of His Holiness Karekin I in 1998, he was sent to
England to study at the University of Leeds. He attended studies at the
Holy Resurrection Theological College of Mirfield, at the same time
assuming the position of visiting priest of Manchester’s Holy Trinity
Armenian Church, until the year 2000. Throughout the years of 1996 to
2000, Bishop Bagrat, was an active contributing member of the organizing
Executive Committee of the celebrations for the 1700th. Anniversary of the
adoption of Christianity in Armenia
In 2000, upon the completion of his studies in England, Bishop Bagrat
returned to Armenia where the Catholicos of all Armenians, His Holiness
Karekin II appointed him, as the principal of the Vazgenyan Theological
Seminary, in Sevan. At the Seminary, His Eminence taught Theology of St.
Paul, Theology of St. John, and Church History. Under his leadership, the
"Lousavorich" polyphonic choir was formed. Subsequently they produced two
very successful recordings, "Arevagal in Geghard" and "Komitasian
Patarag," in CD format. The choir held concerts in Yerevan, and performed
to audiences in Etchmiadzin, Sevan, and throughout Armenia. The Vazgenyan
Seminary also published its first annual theological magazine, "Sourp
Arakelots."
While at the Seminary, Bishop Bagrat was instrumental in introducing the
subject of "Green Theology" for the first time in Eastern European and the
former Soviet Republic and its churches. In cooperation with World Council
of Church’s office in the Mother See "Round Table," this subject was
brought to the Seminary, and thus introduced to the Armenian Church. In
recent years, ecology has become one of the key issues to affect the
global human conscience as the devastating results of planetary abuse are
now being realized. In keeping with this, theologians have begun to face
the implications of this new ‘Eco-awareness’ and have developed a Green
Theology in response.
In 2002 he received the rank of Vardapet for his thesis on "The Problem of
the Sacrament of anointing the sick in the Armenian Church." At this time,
Bishop Bagrat was appointed as the head of the newly founded department of
Media, Relations and Communications of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
This position also included directorship of spiritual programming on
"Shoghagat" television. Bishop Bagrat became the moderator on his own
series, "To Know the Gospel." This series consisted of weekly sermons and
commentaries on the New Testament, including numerous episodes of debates
and discussions on important topics concerning spiritual, national, and
cultural life of the faithful. Bishop Bagrat Galstanian has published
numerous articles on theology, social, cultural spheres concerning
Armenia, & the Armenian Church.
In 2002, he was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of Arakadzodn in
Armenia. During his short tenure, His Eminence worked to build
opportunities and programs for the young. Bishop Bagrat founded a
children’s dance group and choir in Oshakan, expanded and restructured the
Christian Education Center, and established "Youth Computing Centers" in
Astarak, Aparan and Talin were re-obtained from the government 17
monasteries and churches with their adjacent lands which historically
belonged to the Mother See, but were forcefully taken by the previous
Soviet Regime. He acquired a day care, youth centre in Talin, under the
spiritual guidance of the Diocese of Aragatsotn.
The General Assembly of the Canadian Diocese elected Very Rev. Fr. Bagrat
Galstanian as Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada in
May of 2003. Subsequently, on June 22 of the same year, His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, elevated
the Primate, to the rank of bishop, in the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin,
on the feast of Holy Etchmiadzin.
06 Jun 2008 by Press Office
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