The installation of His Beatitude Krikor Bedros XX Gabroyan as Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church took place at Bzommar Monastery, Lebanon on 9 August.
It was attended by many church leaders including the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, Aram I, representative of the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II and Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisian, a former Primate of the Diocese of Great Britain of the Armenian Church.
Also in attendance were Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon, representatives of the Holy See’s Congregation for Eastern Churches and several other religious leaders and diplomats.
On hearing of Patriarch Krikor Bedros’ appointment at the end of July, Bishop Declan Lang, Chair of the Bishops’ International Affairs department, expressed his “great joy” and offered his prayers and congratulations:
“I am confident that your million-strong community worldwide rejoices with you and prays that the Holy Spirit will inspire as well as encourage you in your new and challenging ministry.”
“And challenges there are too, in view of the fact that the Christians in the MENA region in general, and more particularly those in Syria and Iraq, are facing severe hardships to their faith-based witness let alone to their very presence in those biblical lands. However, despite those difficulties, some of which I have seen personally during my visits to the Holy Lands of Jordan, Israel, Palestine and Lebanon, I take heart from Pope Francis’ message to you that, ‘enlightened by the light of faith in the risen Christ, our gaze is full of hope and mercy because we are certain that the cross of Christ is the tree that gives life.'”
After accepting the Patriarchal Throne Catholicos-Patriarch Krikor Bedros delivered his first liturgy.
In his speech His Beatitude expressed his gratitude to the President of Armenia, the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, and the Catholicos of All Armenians for their support and assured that he will do everything to strengthen and deepen cooperation with the motherland authorities and the two Chairs.
You can read the full text of Bishop Lang’s letter to Patriarch Krikor Bedros by using the link below or to the right of this article.
