First Republic Celebrated in Norway

By Erik Grigoryan

OSLO, Norway—On May 29, the Armenians of the greater Oslo area gathered to observe a Divine Liturgy and celebrate May 28th, Republic Day, in a church in the city of Asker, near Oslo. Following the Divine Liturgy by Fr. Sarkis, the organizers from the Armenian Cultural Association of Norway gave the opening remarks. Fr. Sarkis also offered a Memorial Service to all the martyrs fallen for the first republic and for the independence of Armenia, followed by readings from the Bible. Afterwards, the Board of the Armenian Cultural Association and the teacher of the Armenian Sunday School, Ashkhen Movsisyan, presented official certificates of attendance to children who had completed the course. An official dinner followed.

At the conclusion of the event, Fr. Sargis called for a consultative meeting to discuss the establishment and registration of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and the Church Council in Norway. Issues related to registration, formation, administration, and governing, as well as membership of the two bodies, were discussed. Volunteers were elected to help implement further projects and activities of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church in Norway.

Blessed by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and instructed by Very Rev. Fr. Haikazoun Dz. V. Najarian, the Legate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Central Europe, Fr. Sarkis was in Norway within an official visit to establish the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and church councils in Norway, Denmark, and Finland. He will have meetings with representatives of the authorities of Norway and the Christian Council of Norway to discuss the registration of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and establishment of ecumenical relations between the Armenian Apostolic Church and Christian communities of Norway.