Sun Sep 15 11:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Remains of Cardinal Agagianian Returned to Beirut, Setting Stage for Beatification
**Beirut, Lebanon** – The remains of Cardinal Gregory Peter XV Agagianian, a prominent Armenian Catholic Patriarch known for his opposition to communist rule and his role in the Second Vatican Council, were returned to Lebanon on Thursday, Sept. 12, in a solemn ceremony held in Martyrs’ Square.
The ceremony, attended by political and religious leaders from across Lebanon, marked the start of the formal process for Agagianian’s beatification, a step towards sainthood. The cardinal’s body, which was discovered to be incorrupt, was carried in a glass casket by young men from different religious denominations, symbolizing interfaith unity in Lebanon.
Agagianian, a Georgian-Armenian who served as the Armenian Catholic Patriarch from 1936 until his death in 1971, played a key role in the development of the Armenian Catholic Church and fostered close relationships with various segments of Lebanese society. He was known for his advocacy for justice, his devotion to the Virgin Mary and the Eucharist, and his work in building schools, orphanages, and the Armenian Catholic Cathedral in Beirut.
The late patriarch’s remains will be laid to rest in the cathedral he built, a testament to his legacy in Lebanon. The process of his beatification, which was initiated by the current Armenian Catholic Patriarch, Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, is expected to move forward rapidly, with the first stage, involving a thorough investigation of Agagianian’s life and virtues, already underway.
“We brought him to Lebanon to show the world our unity, solidarity, and mutual love among denominations and all parties,” said Patriarch Minassian. “Young men from various denominations carried the casket, representing a true reflection of what a Lebanese family looks like.”
The ceremony was a testament to the enduring legacy of Cardinal Agagianian and the hope for his beatification. His return to Lebanon, a place he considered his home, is a symbol of unity and reconciliation in a region often beset by conflict.
First Piper 