A NEW page was turned in the Armenian community over the weekend when the north shore welcomed the new Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.
Hundreds turned out at the Armenian Apostolic Church in Chatswood on Sunday as His Grace Bishop Haigazoun Najarian delivered his first service to the church since the death of the late Primate Aghan Baliozian, the North Shore Times reports.
Bishop Najarian takes over from the late Archbishop who died suddenly last year, aged 66, after years of service on the north shore.
Bishop Najarian arrived in Sydney on Friday night and will be moved into his permanent residence in Chatswood in the coming weeks.
Chairman of the Diocese Mr Vahan Batmanian said the new Primate would begin to heal a deep void left by the passing of the late Primate.
“His Grace comes to lead the next chapter of our Diocese and brings with him a wealth of experience having served and lived in Armenian communities worldwide including the Middle East, Armenia, Great Britain, the United States and most recently in central and northern Europe,” he said.
Archbishop Baliozian died in hospital on September 22 and was remembered at a large service in Chatswood in October. Willoughby Council has resolved to establish a memorial to him.
