CROWDS packed into the Armenian Apostolic Church of Holy Resurrection in Chatswood on Thursday morning for the Episcopal funeral of the late Primate of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand.
His Eminence, Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, died suddenly of a heart attack on September 22, aged 66.
A special requiem service was held at the Macquarie St church on Wednesday at 7pm, before Thursday’s open casket viewing funeral service and final consecration, which began at 10am.
The late Primate was laid to rest in a designated plot behind the Armenian Section of Macquarie Park Cemetery.
HAVE YOUR SAY: What did His Eminence mean to the Armenian community in Willoughby? COMMENT BELOW.
Distinguished guests from Australia and New Zealand and three Archbishops from Jerusalem, India and Armenia, were among more than 600 people who turned out to farewell the Archbishop.
Member for North Sydney, Joe Hockey, member for Willoughby, Gladys Berejiklian, and member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock, were all in attendance.
His Emincence resided on the northern beaches but had made Willoughby and Chatswood his home for a number of years.
View our gallery of the service here.
A moment’s silence was held at Willoughby council chambers last week.
Willoughby mayor Pat Reilly said His Eminence was a man of great humour and great wisdom.
He was labelled an extraordinary man by deputy mayor Stuart Coppock.
NorthShoreTimes