New Prelacy Council Members Elected during CANAR Meeting

The agenda for this year’s meeting included the reconstruction of villages in Armenia, particularly the New Cilicia village, which is sponsored by the Armenian Catholicosate, and where the erection of 35 homes, a school, a church and a cultural centre are projected and will draw the participation of all Catholicosate Prelacies and churches.

The 50th anniversary of the American Prelacies and Montreal’s Sourp Hagop Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, the 40th anniversary of Prelate Hagopian’s ordination as priest, and the 25th anniversaries of Toronto’s St Mary’s and Cambridge’s Sourp Nishan Armenian Apostolic churches, which will be celebrated in 2008 were also noted during the meeting.

With regards to the elections, members for the Executive and Religious Councils of the Armenian Prelacy of Canada were elected as follows.

Armenian Prelacy of Canada Religious Council Elected Members 2007-2008:
Very Rev. Fr. Meghrig Parikian (chairperson), Rev. Fr. Karnig Koyounian (secretary) and Archpriest Hrair Nicolian (advisor).

Armenian Prelacy of Canada Executive Council Elected Members 2007-2008:

Dr. Jean Arakelian (chairperson), Dr. Garbis Harboyan (vice-chairperson), Raffi Der Boghossian (secretary), Arto Kabassakalian (treasurer), and as advisors, Dr. Barouyr Toukhmanian, Osana Mksyartinian, Yervant Shahinian, Garo Postajian and Thomas Frounjian.

The attendants included CANAR delegates, Armenian Prelacy of Canada Executive and Religious Council members, as well as members from Prelacy Church Boards.

Zaven Tehlirian, son of national hero Soghomon Tehlirian, “Cilicia Princes and Knights,” recipients of Mesrob Mashdots medals, community benefactors, as well as representatives of sister organizations were among the invited guests present at the first meeting.

On the following evening, Archbishop Hagopian and meeting attendants joined Toronto’s Armenian community for the commemoration of Armenia’s first independence, where the Honourable Jason Kenney, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity), was presented with the Spirit of Armenia Award on behalf of the Armenian Prelacy of Canada in appreciation for his devotion and exceptional service to the Armenian nation.

Upon His return to Montreal, His Eminence attended the 89th anniversary celebration of May 28 at the Armenian Community Centre on Saturday night and led the Flag ceremony procession on Sunday morning.