Members of the Armenian community came in large numbers Sunday, July 17 at 10:30 am at St Philippe Nice where the Primate of the Armenian Church of France and of Europe, Bishop Vahan Hovhannisyan celebrated Holy Mass and the Office for the Dead in memory of victims of the bombing in Nice. He was accompanied by Father Krikor Khachatryan the parish priest and the deacons and cantors. Interrupting his stay in London, Bishop Vahan Hovhannisyan wanted to go to the faithful of the Armenian Apostolic Church Nice to bring their compassion. The bishop said his great sorrow for the bereaved families and sent his sympathy and prayers to the injured.
At this Mass also attended the Church of Saint Mesrop priest Father Chnork Bagdassarian London and the great Chancellor and delegate of the Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem Philippe Piccapietra, came specially from Zurich, to share the pain of Nice and of Nice. Bishop Vahan Hovhannisyan was very excited to chair this poignant ceremony, by the presence of an altar boy of 10 who had escaped this tragedy and who was there to serve Mass.
The faithful then went on the Promenade des Anglais to gather here and pray. “We came to honor the victims and show our solidarity, our compassion and share the pain of Nice and Nice. To pray is an act of faith but also of resistance, because it must have hope in life, “said the bishop.
Krikor Amirzayan