Awards Ceremony on the Feast of St. Ghevond the Priest

On February 2, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church celebrated the Feast of St. Ghevond the Priest. On this occasion under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholiocs of All Armenians; an awards ceremony was held for the priests serving in the Dioceses and Armenian Church institutions. The event was attended by diocesan primates, members of the Brotherhood of the Mother See and around 200 priests from the dioceses. The ceremony was held in the Events Auditorium of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

His Grace Bishop Mikael Ajapahyan; Primate of the Diocese of Shirak, welcomed the clergy in commemorating the Feast of St. Ghevond the Priest.

Congratulating His Holiness and the entire rank of priests, His Grace Mikael expressed his wish that the Armenian clergymen, united around and following the examples of His Holiness and the Mother See, fulfill their mission with the same spirit and commitment.

Following opening remarks, the awards ceremony was held.

Rev. Fr. Minas Martirosyan and Rev. Fr. Ghevond Mayilyan (Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin); Rev. Fr. Avetis Danielyan and Rev. Fr. Tiran Arushanyan (Araratian Pontifical Diocese); and Rev. Fr. Arsen Simonyan (Diocese of Shirak), were elevated to the rank of Archpriest.

His Holiness granted the following priests the right to wear the flowered cope: Rev. Fr. Zenon Barseghyan and Rev. Fr. Tatul Gasparyan (Araratian Pontifical Diocese); Rev. Fr. Ruben Gasparyan (Diocese of Shirak); Rev. Fr. Andreas Tavadyan (Diocese of Artsakh); Rev. Fr. Michael Shaghoyan (Diocese of Gougark); Rev. Fr. Sarkis Khlgatyan and Rev. Fr. Harutyun Kesabyan (Diocese of Armavir).

The right to wear the Pectoral Cross was granted to Rev. Fr. Tadeos Tadevosyan and Rev. Fr. Teodik Chetingaryan from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin; Rev. Fr. Hovakim Harutyunyan (Araratian Pontifical Diocese); Rev. Fr. Oshin Hayrapetyan (Diocese of Aragatsotn); Rev. Fr. Tachat Injighulyan (Diocese of Armavir); Rev. Fr. Hamazasp Grigoryan (Diocese of Kotayk); Rev. Fr. Taron Hunanyan (Diocese of Gegharkunik); Rev. Fr. Atom Asatryan, Rev. Fr. Ovse Hovhannisyan and Rev. Fr. Ghazar Torosyan (Diocese of Gougark); Rev. Fr. Ghevond Topashyan and Rev. Fr. Torgom Vardanyan (Armenian Diocese of Georgia); Rev. Fr. Abel Kartashyan (Diocese of Tavoush); Rev. Fr. Abgar Margaryan (Diocese of Artik) and Rev. Fr. Poghos Michaelyan (Diocese of Bulgaria).

At the end of the Award Ceremony, the Catholicos of All Armenians offered his appreciation and blessing remarks.

Congratulating the priests who traveled to Armenia on the occasion of the Feast of St. Ghevond, His Holiness raised a prayer of thanks to God for the effectiveness of the clergy’s efforts in the life of the Church.

“Today, once again we are connected with the mystery of the Feast of St. Ghevond and become inspired and courageous by their character, with brave church-devoted and patriotic spirit that was displayed when our nation, our people and Church were challenged. We all know how the followers of Ghevond, led our people with the following ideal: “For the sake of faith and Homeland”, withstood those trials and outlined the path of eternity in front of our people. During history, Armenian people have often faced similar challenges and our Church and clergy have always been at their side. They have inspired spirit, will and courage to our people to confront these challenges and trials, and lead them to victory”, stated His Holiness.

His Holiness noted that at present times the economic and social issues are new challenges for the Armenian people and sometimes some Armenians give up when faced with those challenges, and leave their faith and homeland. “In this situation the role of the Armenian clergy and the importance of their mission are more important. By the example of St. Ghevond, our clergymen must be able to strengthen the nation and church, and uphold the devoted patriotic spirit of our people, to keep our people strong and firm in the sacred heritage of their ancestors”, stressed the Armenian Patriarch.

At the conclusion, Catholicos Karekin II, urged the servants of the Armenian Church to continue their service with dedication and commitment, to keep her course steady in the way of God’s commandments. His Holiness also wished our Heavenly Lord to strengthen the Armenian Church.

The ceremony ended with the Pontifical prayer.

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