TO PRIMATE OF THE ARMENIAN DIOCESE OF BRAZIL

OF THE ARMENIAN HOLY APOSTOLIC CHURCH

THE VERY REV. ARCHIMANDRITE NAREG BERBERIAN

Your Holiness,

I convey my warm greetings and congratulatory remarks to you on being elected Primate of the Armenian Diocese of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church in Brazil. Your election on the threshold of the Holy Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ is truly symbolic. It is the appreciation of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church and its Patriarch, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians of the trust in you and your dedicated service.

The Armenians living in the land of the hospitable Brazilians for a century have always stayed clung to their roots thanks to the viable spiritual and cultural values of the Homeland.

In the contemporary history of the Armenians, special importance is attached to the strengthening and development of Homeland-Diaspora relations, which have always been in the focus of the Armenian people and Armenian clergymen. Guided by this symbol that has become a lifestyle for the Armenians, for more than thirty years, Archbishop Tatev Gharibyan stayed true to the doctrine of the national church and preserved the unique image of the Armenian Diocese in Brazil with his dedicated service.

I am certain that under your leadership the Diocese will continue the established traditions and will become a holy place that will convey more energy to the local Armenians, a smithy for Christian Armenians, the endless vigor of which can keep the light of Saint Gregory the Illuminator shining from the Holy Etchmiadzin Church always shining.

Your Holiness, it’s inspiring to see that you especially serve the Armenians living in South America. Underlining the importance of your pro-national activities carried out over the past two decades and your great experience in that region, we are certain that by realizing the growing danger of assimilation, with your service there will be new mechanisms developed for the enlargement of programs that will contribute to the preservation of national traditions and will help raise the self-awareness and promote the national identity in those communities of the Armenian Diaspora. As leader of the Diocese, you will become the guarantor for the deepening and strengthening of relations between Armenia and the Armenian community of Brazil.

Your Holiness, we expect to see further strengthening of the Armenia-Diaspora partnership, as well as the active involvement and participation of the Brazilian-Armenian community in the pan-Armenian programs carried out by the RA Ministry of Diaspora under your leadership.

May God be with the Armenian Diocese in Brazil, you, Your Holiness and all the Armenians of Brazil!

WITH DEEP RESPECT

HRANUSH HAKOBYAN