The Armenian Church Council of Australia in NSW, under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia, welcomed Reverend Father Mesrop Aramian, writer and producer of the award-winning documentary film ‘From Ararat to Zion’ to Sydney accompanied by his wife on 27 July 2011.
The Reverend Father was invited as a guest of the parish for the premiere screening of the film which took place on Friday 29 July to a capacity filled theatre of 400 people that included dignitaries and members of the Armenian Community of Sydney. The film was so highly anticipated a second screening was held on Sunday 31 July to another sell out crowd.
‘From Ararat to Zion’ traces the footprints of Armenian pilgrims to the Holy Land from the earliest times of Christianity. The film was first screened in Armenia in 2010 and has subsequently been hosted in cinemas worldwide.
During Father Aramian’s visit to Sydney, he has had the opportunity to meet with community groups and schools, celebrate the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Holy Resurrection and present talks on his various projects in Armenia.
Father Aramian will conclude his Sydney visit on Thursday 4 August and will stopover in Singapore on return to Armenia to be met by members of the small Armenian Community there.
On Sunday 28 August, the Loosavorich children’s choir of the Church of Holy Resurrection led by choirmaster, Deacon Vartan Elmasian participated in the Ryde Christian Heritage concert singing hymns from the Divine Liturgy. The concert was held at St Anne’s Church in Ryde. It followed the annual Ryde Christian Heritage Walk, an event which commemorates the first Christian service held in the area by Rev William Henry on August 26, 1796.
