Canonization Committee Convened in Antelias
Armenian Apostolic Church – February 2014
From January 27 through 29, under the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; the Canonization Committee of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church was convened in the Mother Cathedral of the Great House of Cilicia. Prior to the meeting, the members of the Canonization Committee met with His Holiness Aram I, receiving His fatherly blessings and appreciation for their efforts.
The meeting was opened with the Lord’s Prayer and a special prayer was recited for the repose of souls of the Armenian Genocide victims. Present at the meeting were His Eminence Archbishop Sepuh Sargsyan (Co-chairman); His Grace Bishop Arshak Khatchatrian (Co-chairman); His Eminence Archbishop Varujan Herkelyan; His Eminence Archbishop Mushegh Martirosyan; His Grace Bishop Mikael Ajapahian; His Grace Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan; His Grace Bishop Anushavan Danielyan; His Grace Bishop Babgen Charyan; His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhannisyan; Rev. Fr. Zakaria Baghumyan and Rev. Fr. Vahrij Gharakhanyan.
During the meeting they discussed and made decisions on canonization conditions, service, canon of hymns devoted to the Genocide victims, the service and date of the liturgical commemoration, as well as issues relating to the preparation of their relics and icons. The committee also made an agreement to complete the whole canonization process in 2015. Appropriate assignments were made in this regards. The meeting was closed with prayers.
The next meeting of the Canonization Committee will be convened from May 25 through 30, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
