An ecumenical service dedicated to St. Gregory of Narek took place at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church on Saturday, April 27, 2024. His Grace Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Canada, and Most Reverend Francis Leo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto, co-presided over the service.
Rev. Archpriest Zareh Zargarian, the Parish Priest of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church & Vicar of the Armenian Apostolic Diocese of Canada, and Rev. Dr. Luis Melo, Director of the Office for Promoting Christian Unity & Religious Relations with Judaism in the Archdiocese of Toronto, conveyed their welcoming messages as the organizers of the ecumenical service. The Armenian evening vespers began after their speeches.
During this beautiful prayer service, Bishop Hovakimyan, Archbishop Leo Francis, and Bishop Andrew Asbil, along with the Reverend Fathers, Deacons, and Choir, participated. Prayers from St. Gregory of Narek were recited by bishops in Armenian and English. Archbishop Leo then delivered the Homily.
Afterwards, Fr. Brian Clough proceeded to read about the background of a special thurible and plate which was in the possession of Mr. Harry Hodson, the director and principal of St. Michael Choir School. Mr. Hodson’s grandparents, who were missionaries in the beginning of 20th century in Marash, Turkey, were witnesses to the Armenian Genocide. Eventually the time came for them to leave as their safety was in danger. As a favor to the Armenian community, they took several religious artifacts with them. Mr. Hodson contacted his lifelong friend Fr. Clough to help with returning the Thurible and the plate back to the Armenian Church. Sadly, Mr. Hodson passed away, but his wife and daughter were present at Holy Trinity Armenian Church and presented the articrafts to Mr. Robert Adourian, the grandson of an Armenian genocide survivor as well as one of the Georgetown boys. Subsequently, Mr. Adourian presented both the thurible and plate to Bishop Hovakimyan for safekeeping in Holy Trinity Armenian Church.
As a symbol of appreciation and friendship between the Armenian and Catholic churches, Bishop Hovakimyan presented Archbishop Leo with an artwork of St. Gregory of Narek painted on leather by an Armenian iconographer. This special gift was brought from Armenia to Canada for the occasion and given to the Archdiocese of Toronto.
As a tribute to the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide, attendees joined the procession to place a flower cross (wreath) at the Armenian Genocide Memorial in church premises. The national anthems of Canada and Armenia were sung.
The event concluded with light refreshments. Photo credit: Berge Parseghian
