On Wednesday, December 21, Bishop Torkom (Western Prelacy, welcomed Archbishop Anoushavan (Eastern Prelacy) and Archbishop Papken (Canadian Prelacy) at the Western Prelacy headquarters in La Crescenta, CA. Archbishops Anoushavan and Archbishop Papken were invited to participate in the 50th anniversary of the Western Prelacy and held a meeting to discuss various issues related to the North American prelacies.
The meeting at the headquarters of the Western Prelacy examined Catholicos Aram I’s directive to involve the church more actively in the life of the younger generations of the Armenian communities with a range of initiatives, including more engaging educational programs.
At the end of the meeting, the three prelates issued the following declaration in defense of Artsakh:
“Following the declaration of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, we call upon our community in North America at large, be them national, political, diplomatic, humanitarian, educational, social, economic, sports, and cultural organizations, societies, groups, benefactors, and individuals, to offer their utmost support to Artsakh and the 120,000 Armenians who are in need there (elders, sick, youth, disabled, teenagers, and children).
Especially in these critical days, coincidental with the holidays, when Artsakh is confronted once again with a life-or-death situation; when the Lachin corridor, the “road of life” that connects the Armenians of Artsakh to Armenia remains closed, it is our duty to create an environment favorable to our beloved Artsakh and its people in the entire territory of North America, bringing to the attention of peoples and governments all necessary and useful alternatives to strengthen our homeland and to save the Armenians of Artsakh from this critical situation. The main goal must be the prompt reopening of the Lachin corridor as sole road of humanitarian aid.
May our fraternal, united, and powerful all-Armenian effort be our present to the most stricken segment of the Armenian people on New Year and Armenian Christmas in order to allow Artsakh and its Armenian population to overcome the treacherous dead end created by Azerbaijan.”
