Funeral Rite for the Late Bishop Narek Shakaryan

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin – 27/8/17

+Memory Eternal+

On August 23, the funeral rites for His Grace Bishop Narek Shakaryan was held in the cemetery of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin located at the Mother See, which was attended by members of the Brotherhood of the Mother See, led by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

Prior to his burial in the evening of August 22, the body of the late Bishop Narek laid in state at Gyumri’s Yotverk Holy Mother of God Church, where a requiem service was offered under the presidency of His Grace Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan, Grand Sacristan of the Mother See.

In the morning of August 23, in Gyumri’s Yotverk Holy Mother of God Church, Rev. Fr. Makar Hakobyan, Vicar of the Syunik Diocese offered a Divine Liturgy, during which His Eminence Archbishop Sepuh Chuljyan, Primate of the Diocese of Gougark, offered the last rites and interment services.

During the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Hovnan read the remarks of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, which states in part:

“Dear ones, with sadness in our hearts, we bid farewell to our honored and devoted servant of the Holy Apostolic Church. The late Bishop received his spiritual education under the auspices of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin during the conditions of the Soviet regime.

Responding to the Lord’s call during the difficult years of godlessness, he assumed the mission of a celibate clergyman in order to bring his service to our faithful people, and contribute to the progress of the national-ecclesiastical life. Bishop Narek Shakaryan offered his long-lasting commendable service to the Armenian spiritual center, serving in positions of responsibility. He was a member of the Revision Committee of the Mother See, and also served as the spiritual pastor at the Monastery of Geghard.

The late Bishop Narek continued his mission as Vicar of the Diocese of Shirak, then as Primate of the Diocese of Russia and Nor Nakhichevan; and the Diocese of Shirak. During the tragic earthquake that struck our people and the hard times following the catastrophe, the Bishop was alongside his beloved children of the Shirak Diocese, to share their grief and pain, as well as played an important part in organizing and coordinating the reconstruction works of the towns and villages of the diocese.

His Grace Bishop Narek Shakaryan also served our children in the Diaspora, serving in the Armenian communities of France, and strengthening faith towards God, and love and devotion for the homeland, in the inner world of Armenians living far away from the homeland. In the last years of his earthly life, the spiritual servant returned to the homeland, continuing to provide useful services in the Shirak Diocese.

Indeed, the loss of Bishop Narek Shakaryan, a member of the Brotherhood of Mother See, is painful to us all. Our Lord, Jesus Christ by giving his faithful followers the promise of everlasting life and bliss says: “Where I am there will my servant be” (John 12:23-26).
From the depths of our heart we pray that All Merciful God, in His Heavenly Kingdom, accepts the soul of the late Bishop.

Blessed be the memory of the righteous”.

Following the Divine Liturgy and last Rite service, Bishop Narek was brought to the cemetery of the Mother See for burial.

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