Bishop Hovakim Manukyan Attends Thanksgiving Eucharist for the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun at Southwark Cathedral
London, 18 July 2026 – His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom and Ireland, accompanied by the Very Rev. Fr Movses Sargsyan of the Brotherhood of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, presently visiting the Diocese, participated in the Solemn Thanksgiving Eucharist celebrated at Southwark Cathedral to mark the conclusion of the episcopal ministry of the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark.
The liturgical celebration brought together bishops, clergy, civic representatives and faithful from across the Diocese of Southwark to give thanks to Almighty God for Bishop Christopher’s years of devoted pastoral service. During the rite, the diocesan crozier, the symbol of the Bishop’s pastoral office, was reverently entrusted to the Bishop of Croydon, marking the completion of Bishop Christopher’s ministry as Diocesan Bishop. In a moving gesture of humility and thanksgiving, Bishop Christopher knelt before the altar as prayers were offered for the next chapter of his vocation.
Throughout his episcopal ministry, Bishop Christopher has been a valued friend of the Armenian Apostolic Church and a steadfast supporter of the ancient Christian Churches of the East. He has consistently fostered closer relations between the Anglican Communion and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, promoting Christian unity while advocating for religious freedom and supporting Christians facing persecution. As Co-Chair of the Anglican–Oriental Orthodox International Forum, he played an important role in strengthening theological dialogue and deepening the bonds of friendship between the two Church families. His pastoral concern has also extended to the Armenian people, and he has remained a respected voice of solidarity during times of trial.
The friendship between Bishop Christopher and Bishop Hovakim has developed over many years through close ecumenical collaboration. A significant expression of this relationship was their joint pilgrimage to Armenia in 2018 under the auspices of the Anglican and Eastern Churches Association. The pilgrimage enabled Anglican clergy and faithful to encounter the rich spiritual and historical heritage of the first Christian nation, fostering greater understanding and strengthening the bonds of friendship between the Anglican and Armenian Churches. More recently, Bishop Christopher joined other senior Christian leaders in appealing to the Government of the United Kingdom for the release of Armenian prisoners unlawfully detained in Azerbaijan, once again demonstrating his enduring solidarity with the Armenian people.
At the conclusion of the Eucharistic celebration, Bishop Hovakim expressed his sincere gratitude to Bishop Christopher for his faithful episcopal ministry, his longstanding friendship towards the Armenian Church, and his unwavering commitment to Christian unity. As a sign of this gratitude, he presented Bishop Christopher with a traditional Armenian icon of the Mystical Last Supper. The icon, depicting Christ gathered with His Apostles around the Eucharistic table, symbolises the mystery of the Holy Eucharist, the unity of the Church, and the communion shared by all Christians. It was offered as a lasting expression of the spiritual friendship and mutual esteem that have characterised the relationship between Bishop Christopher and the Armenian Church.
Bishop Hovakim assured Bishop Christopher of his continued prayers and invoked God’s abundant blessings upon him as he begins this new chapter of his life and ministry. He also expressed his confidence that the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation established over many years between the Diocese of Southwark and the Armenian Church would continue to flourish in the service of the Gospel and the visible unity of Christ’s Church.
