2004 Annual Report of the Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Officer

The Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Officer reaches out to promote appreciation of the Armenian Church and Armenian issues, and to encourage Christian and interfaith cooperation.  The legate travels extensively to attend ecumenical gathering, and keeps in close contact with local Armenian parishes to solicit their participation.

Highlights of 2004 Activities

Legate’s Committee: Mr. Kevork Toroyan chairs the National as well as Executive Committee of the Legate. Mr. Michael Haratunian, Mr. Cesar Chekijian, Mr. Oscar Tatosian and Mr. Simon Balian also are active members of the Executive Committee that are engaged in the affairs of the Legate.

Ecumenical Outreach: Diocesan Legate organized a trip to Armenia to help build Armenian Habitat for Humanity team.  Since the involvement of the Legate Habitat has built 97 houses in Armenia.  It was arranged with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians that, he will come to Michigan, Detroit to participate in Jimmy Carter Work Project.  Legate with Michigan Habitat President had meetings with Catholicos as well as Armenian authorities.

Other Ecumenical Activities

• Legate’s committee met several times during the year to discuss its future activities.
• The Legate’s office organized few times, meetings between Armenian and Jewish Young Professionals.  Those meetings help to come to an understanding between the Armenian and Jews mainly about Armenia and Israel and Holy Land as well as the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
• The Legate attended several meetings of the Churches for the Middle East Peace and the Holy Land.  Those meetings have been more frequent since the war in Iraq.
• The Legate organized and chaired the meeting of the Orthodox Advisory Committee, which meets often, to discuss the difficulties that face Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches.  It was decided that a group of Orthodox bishops and priests will visit the Holy Land, to support the Christian Minorities theme.
• The Legate attended a meeting of U.S. Church leaders, which includes representatives from Roman Catholic Orthodox, Protestant and Evangelical Churches.  The Legate is a member of the Steering Committee.
• The Legate attended the meeting of the National Council of Churches Board of directors meetings and Executive Committee four times as well as conference calls once a month.  The Legate was elected as the Secretary of the Executive Committee.
• The annual assembly of the National Council of Churches took place in St. Louis.  The Legate attended with Fr. Haigazoun Najarian and Yn. Arpi Kouzouian.
• It has been a tradition for the heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches to celebrate the Divine Liturgy together once a year.  This year’s event was hosted by the Diocese.  Archbishop Khajag Barsamian was one of the co-celebrants.
• Another tradition is the Joint Committee of the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches.  This year it took place twice in the Diocese as well as Greek Archdiocese, and was co-chaired by Archbishop Barsamian and Bishop Dimitrios Couchel of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.
• Once a year, a special prayer service of the Orthodox Churches takes place, either Greek or Armenian, for the Orthodox representatives who work for United Nations.  The service took place in the St. Vartan Cathedral, with the participation of clergy and laity.
• The Legate attended the meetings of Church World Service as well as Mission and Relationship in New York and South.
• The Steering Committee of the Christian Churches together met in Houston and the Legate attended the meeting and was elected as a committee member.  Christian Churches has become a very important ecumenical movement, which is made up of Catholics, Main line protestant, Orthodox and Evangelicals.  Legate attended three more meetings of Christian Churches together.
• Legate attended Faith and Order Foundation meeting in Los Angeles.  Legate also attended the meeting of Faith and Order of NCCC, in Indiana.
• Legate visited Jerusalem for the Holy week and was the torchbearer of the Holy Fire.  He was invited by His Beatitude Patriarch Torkom Manoogian.
• It has been a tradition to meet with Oriental Orthodox and Catholics as well.  The Standing Conference of the Oriental Orthodox Churches met twice this year.  It was attended by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and Fr. Daniel Findikyan.  The Standing Conference of Oriental and Catholic met once this year.
• Legate had a meeting with Habitat for Humanity leaders in Michigan, Detroit.  After the meeting, the Legate attended a reception and dinner for President Jimmy Carter.
• The Legate with General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, Dr. Bob Edgar organized a conference on the Armenian and Rwanda Genocides in Los Angeles.
• National Council of Churches organized a meeting with Mr. Kofi Annan on the Genocide of Sudan.  The Armenian Church has played an important and leading role in the genocide of Sudan.  The Legate has attended several conferences concerning Sudanese Genocide.
• The Legate was elected as a member of Interfaith Committee of the National Council of Churches.  He attended the meetings at Interfaith Committee three times.
• The Legate in many occasions has represented Archbishop Khajag Barsamian in different meetings and dialogues.  Made many trips to parishes mainly, Atlanta, Minnesota, as well as Doles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Richmond.

Personnel: The Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Officer is Bishop Vicken Aykazian.