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Published
by the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America,
October 15, 2004
Fourth Annual
Orthodox Prayer Service for the United
Nations Community |
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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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