Ceremony of the Appointment of His Beatitude Catholicos Patriarch of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholics Raphael Bedros XXI
The Armenian Catholic Church celebrated the ceremony of appointment of His Beatitude Catholicos Patriarch of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholics Raphael Bedros XXI (Peter) on the morning of Sunday October 24, 2021 at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral - St. Elias for the Armenian Catholics, Dabbas square, Beirut, Lebanon.
Archbishop Boutros Marayati of Aleppo presided the ceremony, he was assisted by the Synod Fathers of the Armenian Catholic Church. Patriarch of Antioch and all the East for the Maronite Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al Rai and His Beatitude Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Youssef Al Absi attended the ceremony, along with representatives of the Lebanese President, First Minister and Speaker of the Parliament, heads of churches, and believers from the Armenian Church and other ecclesial families.
Following the ceremony, His Beatitude Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI celebrated the Holy mass celebrated the Holy mass. He delivered a speech in which he highlighted the most prominent steps he will be following during his pontificate, thanking the participants, and asking them to pray for the Lord to bless his service. His Beatitude also raised prayers for peace in Lebanon, the East, and the world.
In turn, Patriarchal Vicar of the Armenian Catholic Church in Beirut Archbishop Georges Assadourian addressed a speech in which he thanked the attendees for their participation.
