Fourth Annual Orthodox Prayer Service for the United Nations Community
FORM IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2004
Fourth Annual Orthodox Prayer Service for the United Nations Community
New York, NY - The fourth annual Orthodox Prayer Service and Reception
for the United Nations Community was celebrated on Tuesday, October 12,
2004 at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, at 6:30pm. This year, the
service, jointly sponsored by the Standing Conference of Canonical
Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, (SCOBA) and the Standing Conference of
Oriental Orthodox Churches in America, (SCOOCH) was presided over by
His Eminence Archbishop Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim of the Syrian Orthodox
Archdiocese for the eastern United States. Under the theme of
overcoming violence in the world, suggested by the World Council of
Churches' program of the "Decade to Overcome Violence", the service
focused on the verse from the Gospel of St. Matthew 5:9: "Blessed are
the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
The distinguished speakers at this year's service were His Excellency
Kaha Chitaia, Deputy Permanent Representative of Georgia to the United
Nations, His Excellency Ambassador Teruneh Zenna, Deputy Permanent
Representative of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the
United Nations, Mr. Giandomenico Picco, Under Secretary-General of the
United Nations and Personal Representative of His Excellency Kofi Annan,
Secretary-General of the United Nations, and His Eminence Archbishop
Karim.
His Excellency Chitaia spoke of the need for the Church to speak out
when there is "even the slightest evidence of violence, whether it be of
moral, ethical or criminal character..." The Church must "manifest
clearly its position in regards to such violations. This manifestation
should be motivated only by the moral principles of the Church, and not
other motivations." The position of the Church, he said, "would not
only serve as a strong message for political leaders and public figures,
but also strengthen the faith of the believers."
In his remarks, Ambassador Zenna noted several causes of violence, such
as the increase of poverty in a "rapidly globalizing world." "There
is," he said, "an absolute necessity for all of us to speak loudly and
in unison against oppression and the exclusion of one by the other." We
"Orthodox Christians," he noted, "must emphasize service for the
disadvantaged and oppressed as a necessary consequence of our
recognition of all humanity bearing the image of God." His Excellency
also addressed the violence of terrorists, "who for their own perceived
reasons hate and fear other people, their values, culture and
civilizations."
In the message of the UN Secretary General, His Excellency Kofi Annan
wrote, "At a time when some would seek to divide the human family by
exploiting differences among peoples, we need more than ever the
contribution of men and women of faith who defend and promote the
practice of dialogue. That is why I am pleased to extend my best wishes
to this prayer service for the United Nations Orthodox community. It
is reassuring to know that you have gathered to celebrate your
commitment to overcoming violence in our world and to reaffirm your
rejection of intolerance and hatred. As you pray for the United
Nations, I hope you will pray that whatever the challenges and crises
that confront us, we may make this indispensable instrument as effective
as it can be. Pray that world leaders find the wisdom and the will to
use this tool to its full capacity, in the interest of the people it
exists to serve. Pray for peace in the family of nations."
Archbishop Karim, presiding hierarch at the service, spoke of the place
of the human being in creation, the role of the Holy Church in promoting
peace and harmony among all people and the role of the United Nations
in establishing peace among nations. Concerning the United Nations, His
Eminence stated: "Peace is only possible when it is built on justice.
As long as I am not able to identify with my neighbor's pain and
suffering, we will not have peace. The United Nations, therefore, is
called upon to supercede the narrow political interests of its member
nations and truly help to establish a world based on true human values
which form the basis of all human rights and the dignity of humankind.
Among other things, this requires the U.N. to be as even-handed as
possible in implementing its resolutions. Eradication of violence and
true peace will never arrive by the dictates of the so-called world
powers but rather the recognition of the dignity of each human being as a
child of God, created in God's image and likeness."
Approximately 200 persons were in attendance, including Ambassadors,
Mission heads and personnel from the United Nations, as well as many
area clergy and laity. Among the church dignitaries present were
Metropolitan Herman of the Orthodox Church in America, Archbishop
Vsevolod of the Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the
USA, Bishop Antoun Khouri of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian
Archdiocese of North America, Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos of the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian of the
Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, Archbishop Abune
Matthias of the Archdiocese of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in the USA,
Archbishop Mor Titus Yeldho of the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian
Orthodox Church of North America, Archbishop Mor Gregorios Yohanna
Ibrahim of the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo, Syria, Bishop
David of the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, and Bishop
Vicken Aykazian, of the Armenian Church of America.
Liturgical music offerings were made by the St. Vladimir Orthodox
Theological Seminary Octet, the Yared Ethiopian Choir, the St. Mark's
Syrian Orthodox Cathedral Choir and Florence Avakian, organist of the
St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral Choir. Following services, a reception
was held in the Kavookjian Auditiorium.
The Fifth Annual Orthodox Prayer Service for the United Nations
community will be held in October 2005, at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral
of the Holy Trinity.
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