His Eminence Laurențiu, Metropolitan of Transylvania, participated from 26 to 28 September 2015, as delegate of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, at the consecration of the Holy Chrism within the Orthodox Church of Armenia. The event took place in Etchmiadzin Cathedral.
Saturday, 25 September 2015
In the Etchmiadzin Cathedral, Saturday, 26 September 2015, from 18:00, was held an opening ceremony. On this occasion, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians has greeted those present and emphasized the fact that the consecration of the Holy Chrism is a proper opportunity to commemorate the great pain endured by the Armenian Christians a 100 years ago. Nevertheless, the consecration of the Holy Chrism represents a moment of joy and a method of mission for the Orthodox Church of Armenia.
Also, in the beginning of the ceremony, representatives from different Churches have addressed messages, as follows:
- His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa
- His Eminence Teodosie, Metropolitan of Tambov şi Rasskazovsk (Moscow Patriarchate);
- His Eminence Laurențiu, Metropolitan of Transylvania;
- Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches;
- Rev. Conf. Dr. Daniel Buda from the World Council of Churches;
Also, other Churches had representatives at the event, as follows:Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, Serbian Orthodox Patriarchate, Georgian Orthodox Church, Cyprus Orthodox Church, Orthodox Church of Albania, Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, Syriac Catholic Church. Also, there were present: the apostolic Nuncio for Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, hierarchs and faithful from the Apostolic Armenian Church, inclusive His Eminence Datev Hagopian, Archbishop of Armenian Orthodox Church of Romania.
Cardinal Leonardo Sandri has ended the opening festivities with a short prayer in latin, followed by an reception. Next, the evening prayer was held in the Etchmiadzin Cathedral.
Sunday, 27 September 2015
The consecration ceremony of the Holy Chrism was officiated, in the Cathedral’s outdoor altar, Sunday, 27 September 2015, after the Divine Liturgy. His Excellency, Serge Sarkisian, President of Armenia, was present at the event, as well as a great number of officials.
From Armenia, His Eminence Laurenţiu has offered more details: “On Sunday morning, 27 September, I assisted at the Divine Liturgy officiated in the central Cathedral from Etchmiadzin. In the afternoon, the consecration ceremony of the Holy Chrism was officiated in the Cathedral’s outdoor stone altar, within the pontifical Complex of Etchmiadzin. The president of Armenia, many faithful, Armenian state officials, as well as representatives of diplomatic institutions, were present at the event. The holy chrism is consecrated at every 5-7 years. According to the tradition, the new consecrated chrism retains a small part of the old one. Thus, between the chrism brought in Armenia by St Tadeus – with which he healed a sick Armenian king – and the holy chrism from nowadays exists a continuous connection, a bond. The central part of the consecration ceremony is the blessing of the chrism with three relics of the Armenian Orthodox Church: a Cross that contains a fragment of the Holy Cross, a lance with a fragment of the spear used to pierce Christ’s coast, as well as the hand of St. Gregory the Illuminator”.
Monday, 28 September 2015
His Holiness Karekin II received, Monday 28 September 2015, the private visit of His Eminence Laurenţiu. Within the meeting, Metropolitan of Transylvania presented the fraternal greeting of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania. In turn, Catholicos of All Armenians conveyed heartfelt congratulations to His Beatitude Daniel on the occasion of the 8th anniversary from the enthronement as Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Within the meeting were mentioned the brotherly bonds between the Romanian and Armenian people, as well as the role of the Catholicos Vasken I in the strengthening of the relationships between the Romanian Orthodox Church and Armenian Orthodox Church.
In the same day, Metropolitan of Transylvania visited the memorial complex built in the memory of the Armenian martyrs, in Yerevan, as well as the Scientific Research Institute of Ancient Armenian Manuscripts. A short prayer was held at the memorial, invoking the mediation of the martyrs in world’s peace.
His Eminence Laurenţiu, with the other guests, participated on Sunday evening, at a classical and religious music concert, held at the Yerevan Opera.
