In honor of His Holiness Aram I, a dinner was organized, informs the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.
"The Armenians who settled in the city of Racine, Wisconsin, greeted with filial enthusiasm the blessing visit of their pastor, which took place on Thursday, October 17, 2024. Now, H.S.O.T.T. Aram A. His Holiness, with his entourage, arrived at St. Jacob's Church in the city of Raisin, where he was welcomed by the church's parishioners, the Armenian clergy of the region, the church's pastor and the trustees. His Eminence's entourage included the leader of the Eastern Armenian Diocese of North America Gersh. T. Anushavan Ark. Danielian, leader of the Armenian Diocese of Ghana Gersh. T. Babgen Ark. Charian, Chairman of the National Administration of the Eastern Diocese, Colonel Aram Sarafian, Director of the Information Department of the Catholicosate, Hogsh. T. Rev. Joakim Bancharjian and Head of Inter-Church and Christian-Islamic Relations in the Middle East of the Catholicosan Hogsh. T. Rev. Sargis Abrahamian: At the end of the "Miracle" spiritual ceremony, the leader of the Eastern Armenian Diocese, Archbishop Anushavan, welcomed the pontifical visit to the Patriarch and said that the visit of His Holiness, in the truest sense of the word, is a blessing for the children of the Armenian nation who found their identity under the holy yard of the church. Surely, after this visit, a new page of spiritual renewal and vitality will be opened in the life of the children of this community. His Holiness chose the following line of the psalmist as a naturalist in his paternal message: "I was happy when they told me: - Let's go to the Lord's house" (122.1). Starting from the mentioned sentence, His Holiness the Patriarch emphasized that the church is the house of God and not just a building. The people gathered here are not an ordinary crowd, but have social characteristics and a value system. Continuing his speech, he emphasized that although the children of our nation built this house, God called them to this mission. We built our spiritual and national identity in God's house and became true Christians and fellow Armenians. our values, traditions and ideals were formed in this house. Today, God invites us to meet him in his house, because he calls the human being a member of his house. Therefore, we, as God's people, are called to stick to our church, always remaining faithful to the messages and values conveyed in the Bible, emphasized His Holiness.
The pastor was followed by ajahamboyr in the message, during which he had the opportunity to get to know the members of the colony. Then, a reception took place in the hall of the church, during which the students of Sunday enriched the atmosphere with national-folk songs. The chairman of the church's trusteeship, Jean Pchaglean, the chairman of the national board of the diocese, Aram Sarafian, and Anushavan Arch. Daniela. His Holiness addressed the closing blessing of the evening, emphasizing the importance of belonging to the Armenian community. He found out that the noble Christian values, Armenian customs, history and culture, which we inherited from our parents, strengthen and emphasize our belonging. Yes, we are a nation that was divided into small communities due to circumstances, but the spirit of belonging that we have binds us to our nation. Therefore, our challenge today is to always keep alive the spirit of our belonging to the church and the nation, His Holiness emphasized. At the end of the meal, the hymn "Cilicia" and the patriarchal hymn "In the Most High" were sung in unison. — — — — —The following morning, Friday, October 18, 2024, accepting the invitation of the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia Oscar Tatoyan in Chicago, His Holiness was present. in honor of the meal given to him. Honorary Consul Perch Abgarian in Fresno and political personalities and nationals from Chicago were present. Next, the honorary consul, the spiritual pastor of the Chicago church, Rev. T. Samuel Rev. Achemea and other guests, who focused on the Pope's multifarious pontifical activity, as well as gave a wide place to the spiritual mission performed in the School. Then, a short video related to the daily life of the school was shown.
At the end of the meal, His Holiness delivered his final speech. He highlighted the following two points: a) The importance of preserving the Armenian identity with Armenian traditions and values, especially in America, where a multicultural and multiracial society lives. His Holiness the Patriarch said that the children of our nation have been faithful citizens in this country. they flourished and organized both their national and church life, always sticking to their roots. Today, in modern conditions, it is necessary to keep our Armenian identity with the same awareness and approach. b) The important mission of the school. Remembering the importance of the spiritual formation of the clergy, His Holiness said that the School is the center of Spyurk, where such clergymen are trained, whose goal is to serve God, the church and the nation. Here, the churchmen around this table have graduated from the school and are dedicated to the nation. Therefore, to stand strong in the mission of the school means to be the head of the mission directed to the church, the nation and the Motherland, His Holiness emphasized," the message states.
