On Sunday 20 November 2022, the day finally arrived to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the episcopal ordination of the Primate of Australia and New Zealand. The organisers of the event, committee members, Mesdames Laura Artinian, Nora Bastajian, Taleen Marcarian and Mr Nishan Basmajian put into action a high quality program worthy of merit, with close to 160 guests attending.
The event took place in the Miramare Gardens Lotus Room. Among the guests were, The Hon Mark Coure MP, Minister for Multiculturalism and Minister for Seniors, representing the Premier of NSW, Dominic Perrottet, whose address is included in this issue on page 38). Other guests included Clr Tanya Taylor, Mayor of Willoughby; Tim James MP, member for Willoughby; Member of the Legislative Council, Mr Peter Poulos; Wentworthville City representative Mr Elmore; Willougby City representative Clr Sarkis Mouradian; Metropolitan Archbishop Basilios Kodseie of the Antiochian Orthodox Church; representing the Head of the Anglican Church, Bishop Malcolm Richards; NCCA President Reverend John Gilmore and the General Secretary Elizabeth Stone; NSW Ecumenical Council General Secretary Reverend Father Shenouda Mansour; representing the Syriac Orthodox Church Reverend Nabil Kablo; Monsignor Parsegh Sousanian Patriarchal Vicar of the Armenian Catholic Church of Australia; Armenian Evangelical Church Reverend Hagop Sarkissian; president of the Armenian Missionary Association of Australia Reverend Krikor Youmoushakian; Holy Resurrection and Holy Trinity Church Parish Pastors, Father Avetis Hambardzumyan and Father Miuron Avedisian, Arch- priests Father Norayr Patanian and Father Bartev Karakashian, ARF Central Committee representative Mr Garbis Sarian, Armenian Democratic Liberal Party Mr Haig Lepedjian, ARS Central Committee representative Mrs Nina Kaprielian, Hamaz- kaine Regional Committee representative Mr Raffi Shishoyan; AGBU Sydney Chapter representative Mr Mihran Lepedjian. All members of the Diocesan Council attended, headed by the Chairman Mr Sarkis Der Bedrossian as were representatives of all the auxiliary bodies of the church. The MC for the evening was Diocesan Council member Mr John Marcarian.
The organising committee had prepared a bilingual 16 page commemorative booklet which was provided for the guests. The first page presented the Message of His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians, followed by the sentiments of the Diocesan Council and a general report of the Archbishop’s 10 years of service. The booklet also included the names of the event sponsors, profiles of the performers and the evening’s program. The publication basically reflected a glimpse into the decade-long activities of the Primate.
The program showcased internationally renowned soprano Natalie Aroyan singing “Chinar Yes” and Puccini’s “Vissi Darte”; Charlie Chech (Tchetchenian) and Isabelle Marcarian sang a duet of “What a Wonderful World” and Charlie performed “Come Fly With Me”, “When You Wish Upon a Star” and Archbishop’s favourite “New York, New York”. Young and talented saxophonist Kevork Mouradian played Aram Khachatourian’s “Ororotsayin”. All the performes were accompanied on piano by talented musician Mrs Beatrice Kouyoumdjian-Rankin.
On behalf of the Diocesan Council, the Chairman Mr Sarkis Der Bedrossian delivered his heartfelt address in English. The MC read the message of Dr Prof Abraham Terian from Fresno, who is a prominent lecturer at various American universities as well as a message from NSW Legislative Assembly Speaker the Hon Jonathon O’Dea; video recordings were presented by the Primate’s fraternal brothers and close associates, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian Representative of the Armenian Church to the Holy See in Vatican, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian Primate of Western Diocese of America, Archbishop Vicken Aykazian Vice Moderator of the World Council of Churches, Bishop Robert Rabatt Eparch of the Melkite Catholic Church in Australia and New Zealand, and the Hon Paul Fletcher MP.
Before the end of the ceremony, Archbishop Najarian conveyed his heartfelt sentiments, in Armenian and in English.
This unforgettable evening closed with a toast and standing ovation.
