His Holiness Catholicos Aram I paid a pontifical visit to the community of New Britain on Thursday, November 16th, 2023, following his visit to Troy.
His Holiness and his pontifical delegation were warmly welcomed at the entrance of Sourp Sdepanos Church (St. Stephen) by parish priests, members of the Board of Trustees, representatives of diocesan Councils, and the faithful.
After the canonical prayers, the Prelate, HE Arch. Anoushavan Tanielian extended a heartfelt welcome on behalf of the community and invited His Holiness to deliver his message.
The message of His Holiness centered on a prayer recited during vespers: “O Lord, increase our faith, hope, and love.” Through this prayer, the faithful seek divine guidance to fill their lives with values that please God. His Holiness expanded on the concepts of faith, hope, and love, underscoring their importance in shaping individual lives. In his message, His Holiness also underlined the pivotal role of the church in community life, stating that the church has a mission to unite the faithful and address their spiritual needs.
The ceremony was followed by a dinner in the church hall attended by parishioners and guests from various regions.
During the dinner, His Holiness shared his thoughts on the church as a spiritual family, emphasizing unity through shared faith, love, and hope. Continuing his message, the Catholicos stated that St. Stepanos Church is one of the oldest churches in the region, and let us never forget that the Armenian Church is the oldest in the world. He mentioned that at the end of the first century, Christianity entered Armenia, and in 301, it was declared as the state religion. He underlined that Armenians should take pride in being the first Christian nation, but this significant historical event should inspire them to become active participants in the life of our church with greater faith.
The following morning, Friday, November 17th, His Holiness left for New York (Manhattan).
