Diocesan Vicar Fr. Simeon Odabashian represented Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan at two ecumenical gatherings in early June.
On the evening of Tuesday, June 10, Fr. Odabashian represented the Primate at a concert held under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, honoring the patronal feast of His All-Holiness Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church.
Titled “Praise the Lord, All Nations,” the concert took place at the majestic St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in New York City. Archbishop Elpidophoros, leader of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, opened the program with his blessings and message. The concert consisted of twelve Byzantine chants, in remembrance of the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost on the twelve disciples, performed by the Romanos the Melodist Greek Orthodox Byzantine Choir.
Fr. Odabashian joined leaders from the city’s ecumenical, interfaith, and civic communities for the occasion (shown above, in a photo by Yannis Malevitis of the Orthodox Observer.)
The following evening, June 11, the Diocesan Vicar attended a farewell program at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Divine, honoring the Very Rev. Patrick Malloy for his nine years serving as the 11th Cathedral Dean. In keeping with the tradition of his predecessors, Dean Malloy sowed seeds of friendship with the Armenian Church when he invited Bishop Mesrop to preach at the cathedral, and to offer the Prayer of the Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide, in April of 2024.
On behalf of the Primate and the Eastern Diocese, Fr. Odabashian thanked Dean Malloy for his productive tenure at the cathedral, and conveyed best wishes for his future ministry.