Last Tuesday, March 20, 2012 His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian accompanied by Reverend Fathers Vazgen Boyajyan, Komitas Mirzakhanyan and Deacons Ivan Gyadayan, Arsen Hosepyan, visited the Coptic Orthodox Church in Greater Montreal region to convey condolences on the passing of His Holiness Shenouda III, pontiff of the Coptic Orthodox Church, an inspirational figure who led his people for four decades.
Srpazan led a special prayer service for the repose of the soul of Pope Shenouda III at St George & St Joseph Coptic Orthodox Church in Montreal. His Eminence was then invited to say a word. “I have come here today to express the condolences of the Canadian Armenian Community and myself to you my dear brothers and sisters in Christ” said the Primate. He highlighted the important relationship existing between the Armenian and Coptic Orthodox Churches. His Eminence recalled the visits of Pope Shenouda III to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the joint prayers of then Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin I and Pope Shenouda III.
In response to the news of Pope Shenouda’s passing, His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, expressed his condolences in a letter to the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church. On Tuesday, March 20, at Vehapar’s direction, a delegation of Armenian clergy attended Pope Shenouda’s funeral at the 4th-century St. Bishoy Monastery in Egypt. A requiem service was held at Holy Etchmiadzin on March 21.
We join our Coptic brothers and sisters to express our sorrow that the Christian world has lost a humble and godly leader.
