Welcome Canon Harold Nahabedian to the Diocese in Europe!

It is not often that a bishop gets to induct one of his former teachers into a parish. Last Saturday afternoon, in the presence of ecumenical guests and visiting clergy, I licensed the Revd Canon Harold Nahabedian to be priest-in-charge of St Alban's Strasbourg. He is pictured above taking the oaths on the bible held by the Revd Christine Bloomfield, the Assistant Curate at St Alban's. Other ministers in the parish include reader David Cowley. Bishop Venuste Mutiganda originally from Rwanda and Deacon Sangi Mansita from Angola have permission to officiate (both are pictured below).

I first knew Fr Harold 32 years ago when he was chaplain at Trinity College Toronto where I was a student of divinity. I owe much of my own formation as a priest to his support and direction, particularly in the area of liturgics. Fr Harold comes to us after his retirement as rector of St Mary Magdalene's Church in Toronto, a multicultural parish with an outstanding liturgical and musical tradition. (It is the parish where Healey Willan was organist and choirmaster for decades). He brings to our diocese with a rich experience in ecumenism. He is a member of our international dialogue with the Oriental Orthodox family of Churches (the Coptic, Syrian, Ethiopian, Malankara and Armenian Churches). Harold is Armenian in background and a scholar of Armenian language and liturgy. His French language skills will be essential in this parish with many Francophone members.

Fr Harold is married to Janet, a teacher and musician. We welcome Fr Harold to this diocese. The website of St Alban's Strasbourg is here.



Comments

  1. G16 May 2010 at 14:28

    Toronto's loss is your gain! Ad multos annos to Fr Harold and the congregation of Strasbourg.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous13 February 2012 at 14:13

    ciao venice. we met in rome ,

    ReplyDelete

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