A) Annual Meeting of Parish Priests

Friday 13 May, His Grace Bishop Haigazoun Najarian presided over a Meeting of the Parish Priests of the Diocese with the participation of Very Reverend Father Nerses Harutyunyan, pastor of the Holy Trinity Church in Wentworthville, Reverend Father Avetis Hambardzumyan, pastor of the Church of Holy Resurrection in Chatswood and Reverend Father Khatcher Harutyunyan, pastor of St Mary’s Church in Melbourne.

Resolutions:

1. Uniformity of rituals performed in all the churches.
2. The celebration of the Divine Liturgy on 24 April.
3. The celebration of the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of St Vartan and His Companions (Vartanants) with invitations to school students in each locale.
4. The celebration of the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of Ascension (Hampartsoum) followed by a program of traditional activities, songs etc.
5. The celebration of the Divine Liturgy on the Sunday nearest to the Feast of St James with a procession to venerate the holy icon of Noah’ Ark and revere through recitations and readings the symbolic representation of Mt Ararat in the life of Armenians.
6. The dedication of the second Sunday in October to the Feast of the Holy Translators (Tarkmanchats) celebrating the contribution of all the Armenian teachers of our Diocese.
7. To create opportunities during Lent for clergy of the Diocese to take retreats for prayer and examination of various religious issues that affect Armenians and our Diocese.

During the meeting the clergy reviewed the practices and organisational matters of Blessing Grapes on the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God, Blessing of Pomegranates on New Year’s Day and the Bonfire Ceremony on the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

B) Annual General Meeting of the Diocese Properties Group

On Saturday 14 May 2016, the Annual General Meeting of the Diocese Properties Group was held under the presidency of His Grace Bishop Haigazoun Najarian with the participation of Very Reverend Father Nerses Harutyunyan, Reverend Father Bartev Karakashian, Reverend Father Avetis Hambardzumyan, Reverend Father Khatcher Harutyunyan and 20 members. The meeting convened in the Batmanian Hall at the Armenian Apostolic Church of Holy Trinity at Wentworthville from 9.30 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. The annual Financial Statements of the Diocese (Properties) Limited were tabled and confirmed. The new committee elected comprises of Armen Baghdasarayan, Zaven Hacopian, Sarkis Mouradian, Jack Hotakorzian, Garabed Aladjadjian, Sarkis Der Bedrossian, Kevork Tchaprazian.

C) Annual General Assembly of the Diocese

In the afternoon the Annual General Assembly of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand was held from 1.00 to 5.30 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Church under the presidency of the Primate, His Grace Bishop Haigazoun Najarian with the participation of Very Reverend Father Nerses Harutyunyan, Reverend Father Bartev Karakashian, Reverend Father Avetis Hambardzumyan, Reverend Father Khatcher Harutyunyan and 33 delegates from the Holy Resurrection, Holy Trinity and St Mary’s Churches. For the first time, a representative from New Zealand was invited to attend as a delegate, Mr Noubar Yacoubian, Chairman of the Armenian Society of New Zealand participated. The number of delegates totalled 37.

The elected office bearers to conduct the meeting were: Jack Hotakorzian, Chairman, Nishan Basmajian, Armenian Secretary and Garo Arabian, English Secretary.

The meeting was opened with prayer by Bishop Najarian followed by a minute’s silence in respect to the memory of the fallen soldiers and victims of the recent Artsakh conflict. This was followed by a reading of the Blessing Message from His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

The plans of the new Diocesan Centre were reported and reviewed at the meeting since completion of the construction is anticipated in October 2017. Strengthening co-operation and relations between the parishes was also discussed with practical suggestions conveyed. As a matter of importance, youth issues and initiatives were addressed. The Primate presented in great detail his Activities’ Report for the year. Following the tabling and confirmation of the Diocesan Council’s Annual Report, Financial Statements and Budget, the meeting noted and commended the immense work carried out by the Diocese in all spheres of religious, relational, welfare and community building, proposing recommendations and taking decisions.

Subsequently the meeting elected two new candidates to the Diocesan Council replacing Messrs Jack Hotakorzian and Hagop Paltikian who had completed their terms. Messrs Garabed Aladjadjian and Varouj Vartan-Boghossian joined the new Diocesan Council which now consists of:

Reverend Father Avetis Hambardzumyan, Mrs Laura Artinian, Messrs:Sarkis Der Bedrossian, Stepan Kerkyasharian, Kevork Tchaprazian, Garabed Aladjadjian, Varouj Vartan-Boghossian.

Over the two days, the delegates enjoyed the warm hospitality of the Holy Trinity Parish Council and its Ladies’ Auxiliary.

Celebration of Holy Mass

On Sunday 15 May, on the Feast of Pentecost, the delegates participated in the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Holy Trinity where the celebrant was Parish Pastor of Melbourne’s St Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church, Reverend Father Khatcher Harutyunyan. The sermon was delivered by Bishop Najarian in whose presence newly elected Diocesan and Parish Councillors took an oath of office. At the initiation of the Holy Trinity Church Council, all proceeds from the day’s offering plates were accumulated with donations collected for the Artsakh Appeal and a cheque for $3,577 was presented to the Diocese. Following the Divine Liturgy, the delegates were invited to take lunch prepared by the Ladies Auxiliary in the Batmanian Hall. Bishop Najarian, the Reverend Fathers, Diocesan and Parish Council representatives expressed their gratification at the outcomes of the Assembly wishing the Diocesan and Parish Councils well in their service ahead.

Chancery of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and NZ

15 May 2016