High-Level Meeting in Bucharest Addresses Preservation of Artsakh’s Heritage: Romanian Religious Authorities and Church Leaders Unite for Humanitarian Support

Armenian Church  and Basilica News– OCP News Service – 17/11/2023

Yerevan-Armenia: On 14 November 2023, at the initiative of the Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Romania and the Armenian Diocese of Romania, a meeting-discussion was held in Bucharest dedicated to the preservation of Artsakh’s historical, cultural, and spiritual heritage, and the involvement of the Romanian government and church communities aimed at eliminating the difficult humanitarian situation facing Artsakh Armenians.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Chiprian Olinch, Romanian Minister of Religion. The meeting was attended by His Grace Bishop Tatev Hakobyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Romania; His Grace Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh; Rev. Fr. Garegin Hambardzumyan, Director of the Artsakh spiritual and cultural heritage office and Director of the Mission Department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin; His Grace Bishop Varlaam Ploiesteanu, Patriarchal Vicar of the Romanian Orthodox Church; His Grace Aurel Perca, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church and Metropolitan of Bucharest; His Grace Bishop Mihai Fratsil of the Greek-Catholic Church; representative of the Hungarian Lutheran Church, Rev. Fr. Marton Ilyes; representative of Bishop Kato Bela of the Hungarian Protestant Church; Reverend Fr. Everett of Nevsky, representative of the Anglican Church; members of the Diocesan Council of the Armenian Diocese of Romania and clergymen.

His Grace Bishop Tatev Hakobyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Romania made opening remarks. In his remarks, Bishop Tatev, on behalf of the Romanian Ministry of Religion, expressed gratitude to the Romanian government for organizing the meeting. Then, the Bishop presented the participants the difficult situation of the depatriated Artsakh Armenians and the existing challenges, emphasizing the need to support them.

Reverend Fr. Archimandrite Garegin Hambardzumyan referred to the rich spiritual and historical-cultural heritage of Artsakh, presenting documented evidence of the cultural genocide carried out by Azerbaijan.

His Grace Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, Primate of the Artsakh Diocese presented the socio-economic and moral-psychological condition of more than 100,000 forcibly displaced Artsakh Armenians as a result of Azerbaijani aggression and the programs implemented by the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church in this direction.

Patriarchal Vicar of the Romanian Orthodox Church His Grace Bishop Varlaam Ploiesteanu delivered the welcoming remarks of Patriarch Daniel to the audience, following which the representatives of all the participating churches made speeches, showing their support for Artsakh Armenians and expressing their willingness to contribute to social initiatives.

The Ministry of Religion of Romania, in cooperation with the Armenian Diocese of Romania, translated from English into Romanian and published an information booklet about Artsakh’s spiritual, historical and cultural heritage and Artsakh, which was distributed to all participants.

Source:
OCP News Services