8-Archbishop Khajag Barsamian addressing the K of V Convocation — Archbishop Khajag Barsamian

International Armenian Church Christianity Vatican

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian Appointed Legate to Vatican

December 6, 2018

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The Armenian Mirror-Spectator

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By Florence Avakian

ROME — Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, former Primate of the Eastern Diocese for 28 years, has been busy since arriving in Rome on his new assignment from Echmiadzin by Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.

Appointed in September 2018 as the Pontifical Legate of the Armenian Church in Western Europe, and Representative of the Armenian Church to the Holy See, he has been meeting with high-ranking Vatican officials to strengthen the relationship between the Roman Catholic and Armenian churches.

In relaying the appointment in a September 1 letter this year to Pope Francis, the Catholicos received the Catholic Pontiff’s response that Barsamian’s presence at the Vatican will “definitely be helpful for deepening further” the relationship between the two churches.

Barsamian was warmly welcomed to the Vatican by Armenia’s Ambassador to the Holy See Mikayel Minasyan whose working relationship with Archbishop Barsamian on many projects during the Armenian diplomat’s assignment in Rome for more than six years, have borne successful results for Armenia.

Also welcoming the former Primate was Armenia’s Ambassador to Italy Victoria Bagdassarian, who extended a special invite to the archbishop at a concert organized by the Armenian Embassy in celebration of the 2,800th anniversary of Yerevan at Rome’s Opera House.

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Following his arrival at the Vatican, Barsamian has had personal meetings with Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and with Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.

His meetings with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State at the Vatican, were especially significant. The two have known and worked with each other for a long time; they organized Pope Francis’ visit to Armenia, as well as the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at St. Peter’s Basilica, at which time Pope Francis presided.

They also organized the inauguration of St. Gregory of Nareg’s statue at the Vatican, discussed the present political situation in Armenia, the condition of the Christian communities in the Middle East, and how to strengthen the Mekhitarist Congregation at St. Lazaro in Venice.

“The differences between churches should not be obstacles for them to cooperate and have dialogue issues relating challenges existing in the world today.

“Since the days of Catholicos Vasken I, relations between the Mother See of Echmiadzin and the Vatican, and between the Armenian and Roman Catholic churches in general, have been

growing stronger and deeper with a spirit of closeness and collaboration emerging between our hierarchy and clergy.”

The Armenian Mirror-Spectator

Topics: Armenian Church, Christianity, Vatican

People: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian

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“My objective in my new role in part,” he continued,” is to expand existing projects, programs and activities in order to draw the two churches together in a spirit of mutual respect and collaborative mission.”

Archbishop Barsamian also relayed that in the past several years, many Armenian immigrants have emigrated from the Middle East, Turkey, Armenia and Russia to various nations in Europe. He said that he has communicated with the parish councils and Armenian ambassadors of the countries under his jurisdiction as the Pontifical Legate of the Western Europe and planned pastoral visits to these communities.

He related that the ecumenical spirit has been part of the Armenian Church for many centuries, and noted that the 12^th-century Armenian Catholicos St. Nersess the Graceful had been a champion of ecumenism.

“Today, in our world and society we also face many challenges, but there are also great possibilities,” he stressed. “As always, but especially in recent years, the cooperation among different Christian denominations is essential.”

He offered words of praise about Pope Francis, describing him as “very pastoral, a true believer, honest, humble, simple, warm. He knows and appreciates Armenians closely, and is a close friend of Armenian Primate of Argentina Archbishop Kissag Mouradian who was my classmate at the seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem.”

Archbishop Barsamian related that as a symbol of his closeness to the 80,000-strong Armenian community in Argentina, Pope Francis placed an Armenian “khatchkar” in the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Buenos Aires.

Barsamian added, “During the past years I have developed close relationship with the Catholic leadership in US and also in Vatican. I am committed to continue those relationships for the good of both churches and for the good of the world. I am grateful to Vehapar for giving me the possibility to continue my ministry in this new role.”

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