Armenian Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Reposes

Patriarch Torkom II (Manoogian) of the Armenian Orthodox Church of Jerusalem has fallen asleep in the Lord at the age of ninety-three. Born in Iraq and educated in Baghdad and Jerusalem, Patriarch Torkom spent a total of thirty-seven years in the service of the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, twenty-two of them as its first hierarch. Patriarch Torkom also spent twenty-four years as Bishop (and later Archbishop) of Eastern American Diocese of the Armenian Orthodox Church of Echmiadzin, during which time he supervised the construction the magnificent Cathedral of St. Vartan in New York City. More on his life can be found here. May Patriarch Torkom's memory be eternal!

Annual UN Orthodox Prayer Service Held in NYC

The annual United Nations Orthodox Prayer Service has been held in New York, hosted this year by Archbishop Khajag (Barsamian) of New York and the city's Armenian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Vartan. The annual UN Orthodox Prayer Service is organized jointly by the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Episcopal Assembly of North America and this year included special prayers for Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Christians. A full account of this year's service can be found here.