New York, NY – On Tuesday, October 17, 2023 the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern) hosted an ecumenical luncheon in honor of their Primate His Grace Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan. His Grace Bishop Mesrop recently returned from Armenia where he had been consecrated as a bishop in Holy Etchmiadzin by the hand of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians on October 8, 2023. His Grace prayed his first episcopal liturgy in his Diocese on Saturday, October 14, 2023, and the luncheon was convened a few days later in order to allow the churches of the area – including His Grace’s fellow Oriental Orthodox bishops on the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCh) – the chance to welcome him home.
SCOOCh bishops present at the meeting included our President His Grace Bishop David of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of New York & New England, His Eminence Mor Titus Yeldho of the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church, His Eminence Mor Dionysios John Kawak of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern United States, and His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian Legate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern).
His Grace Bishop David presented His Grace with an engolpion and Melake Hayel Kesis Amde Tsion-Durden – representing SCOOCh member His Eminence Archbishop Petros of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Archdiocese of New York & Its Surrounding Regions – presented His Grace with a hand cross.
Also present at the service were the representatives of the Eastern Orthodox, Maronite, and Roman Catholic Churches, as well as representatives of other faith traditions.