2008 - 17th City of Ryde Community Prayer Breakfast

Armenian Archbishop Aghan Baliozian OAM

On Friday, 8 August 2008, members of Christian communities gathered to celebrate the City of Ryde’s Annual Community Prayer Breakfast. Special guest speaker at the 17th Annual Prayer Breakfast was Archbishop Aghan Baliozian OAM, Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in New Zealand and Australia, who discussed the development and contribution of migrant churches in Australia. Archbishop Baliozian’s talk made specific reference to the establishment of the Armenian Apostolic church, and how migrant churches have enriched society with a variety of faith communities and faith practices.  He also discussed the contribution of migrant churches to the National Council of Churches in Australia, and how they build bridges of communication within communities. The Community Prayer Breakfast is held every year around August.

Theme

The Development and Contribution of Migrant Churches in Australia Overview of how migrant churches developed in Australia with specific reference to the establishment of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Migrant churches have enriched society with a variety of faith communities and faith practices. Migrant churches contribute to the National Council of Churches in Australia and build bridges of communication within communities.

Guest Speaker

Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, born in Aleppo, Syria on 18 August, 1946, received his elementary education in his city of birth. In 1961, he was accepted at the Theological Seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem from where he graduated in 1968 and was ordained celibate priest.  Between 1968-1971, he undertook duties at the Theological Seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate serving as Assistant Dean and Secretary; teacher; and administrator of the Gulbenkian Library. From 1971-1974, he attended the University of Yerevan in Armenia as a student of Armenian Language, Literature and History.  During this period, he taught religious subjects at the Etchmiadzin Theological Seminary. Returning to Jerusalem, from 1974-1975, he was Dean of the Theological Seminary and continued teaching. In 1975 by order of His Holiness Vasken I Catholicos of All Armenians, of blessed memory, he left for Sydney to serve as the Vicar General of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand.   In 1976, he was bestowed the rank of Senior Archimandrite (Doctorate).  In 1981 he was appointed Primate of the Diocese and in 1982 consecrated a Bishop.  In 1991, he was appointed Pontifical Legate of India and the Far East and in 1993 was elevated to the rank of Archbishop.  He has been a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Church since 1995. Very active in ecumenical activities, he was elected the inaugural President of the National Council of Churches in Australia in 1994.  From 2002-2005 he served as Vice-President of the NSW Ecumenical Council and as President from 2005-2007. A member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches representing the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for the Armenian Apostolic Church from 1998 to 2006. In 2004, 2006 and 2007 he was one of a 10 person Australian delegation in Asia-Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogues which were convened to foster greater understanding and cooperation between the various faith communities in the region to potentially resolve challenges facing communities. In 1995 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal and in 2003 the Centenary Medal honouring his contribution to Australian society. Archbishop Baliozian has been a NSW Chaplain and Deputy Chaplain of Australia since joining the Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem in the mid 1980’s.

2007 - 16th City of Ryde Community Prayer Breakfast