TO PRELATE OF THE ARMENIAN DIOCESE OF FRANCE

OF THE ARMENIAN HOLY APOSTOLIC CHURCH

HIS EMINENCE, FATHER, BISHOP VAHAN HOVHANNISYAN

Your Holiness,

I convey my warm greetings and congratulatory remarks to you on being elected Prelate of the Armenian Diocese of France of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church. Your election ahead of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide is evidence of your devotion to the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church and the trust that His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians has in you.

The Armenians living in the hospitable country of Frenchmen have stayed clung to their roots since they have always been nourished by the spiritual and cultural values of the Homeland, as well as by the Patriarchal Wishes and Blessings from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

I am certain that under your leadership the Armenian Diocese of France will continue the best traditions and will become a holy place that will advocate preservation of the Armenian identity and an Armenian upbringing, will convey new energy in terms of religion and culture and will be a place with the essential elements for Christian Armenians.

Your Holiness, it is also inspiring that you will continue to serve all Armenians around the world. Highlighting your pro-national activities and longstanding merit and experience within the U.S. and European Dioceses of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church, we are certain that by serving within the French-Armenian community you will set a goal to promote and enhance the Armenia-Diaspora-Artsakh partnership and support the formation of a real opinion on Armenia and Artsakh.

I am certain that, by taking into consideration the new challenges and the danger of assimilation facing the Armenian communities of France, the Diocese, under your leadership, will develop new mechanisms aimed at helping preserving Armenian national traditions and raising awareness of the national identity and will not overlook our Syrian-Armenian brothers and sisters in that context.

Your Holiness, with your direct support, we anticipate further deepening of the Homeland-Diaspora partnership, as well as the active participation and involvement of the French-Armenian community in the pan-Armenian programs carried out by the RA Ministry of Diaspora.

I wish you more success for the benefit of the national and spiritual unity of the French-Armenian community, as well as for further deepening and strengthening of community-church relations.

May the hand of God be upon the Armenian Diocese of France, upon you-Your Holiness, and upon all Armenians of France.

WITH DEEP RESPECT,

HRANUSH HAKOBYAN