On Friday 4 December 2015 His Grace Bishop Haigazoun Najarian accompanied by Deacon Vartan Elmasian left for Perth on a pastoral visit and to attend an Armenian Genocide Centenary commemoration organised by the Anglican Diocese of Perth.
The Primate celebrated Holy Mass and delivered his sermon to the small Armenian community on Saturday and on Sunday with the community members, he participated in an Ecumenical service in Perth’s St George Anglican Cathedral dedicated to the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide.
The Dean of St George Cathedral, Father Richard Pengelley welcomed the Armenian contingent and especially those who had travelled from interstate. Bishop Najarian delivered the homily in English, succinctly describing the motives which led to the Armenian Genocide and how it was calculatingly carried out.
Deacons Vartan Elmasian, Hovannes Kharadjian, Stepan Kerkyasharian and Nishan Basmajian participated in the Mass and ecumenical service. After the ecumenical service, an exhibition of a collection of photos collected by Vicken Babkenian was viewed, displaying the humanitarian relief efforts of the Australian people, government and churches, in reaching out to care for the Armenian victims in the period 1918 to 1930.
During the serving of refreshments Reverend Graeme Napier delivered an address as did Diocesan Council Vice-Chairman, Mr Stepan Kerkyasharian followed by Bishop Najarian. The number that attended was 50 Armenians and 150 Australians, who later gathered around Bishop Haigazoun interested to ask questions on the Genocide, the Armenian people and the culture.
