Burial Service of His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Pozapalian

On 30 June His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians presided over the burial service of His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Pozapalian, in the Holy Martyrs Church of Teghenik in the Kotayk Region. Archbishop Nerses was a senior member of the Brotherhood of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

In the morning, the remains of Archbishop Nerses were taken from the Monastery of St. Gayane to the Holy Martyrs Church, which was built under his patronage. The services started with the celebration of Divine Liturgy. The celebrant was His Grace Bishop Ararat Kaltakjian, Grant Sacristan of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. Prior to the offering of the Kiss of Peace, the body of Archbishop Nerses was placed in front of the Holy Altar where he received the last anointment. The Pontiff of All Armenians first anointed the forehead and the right hand of His Eminence with Holy Chrism, and then during the Kiss of Peace, His Holiness and members of the Brotherhood kissed the forehead and right hand of His Eminence, receiving the last kiss of peace from him.

His Eminence Archbishop Arsen Berberian delivered the eulogy. He reflected on the life and activities of Archbishop Nerses, stressing his devoted and loyal service to the Armenian Church, particularly to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. He remarked that during his years of service, Archbishop Nerses had served with unshaken faith and devotion to God, giving his love and warmth of his soul to everyone. He led many people to God and to the Armenian Church, becoming a vivid example for the clergy. Archbishop Arsen extended his condolences to His Holiness and the relatives of Archbishop Nerses on behalf of the clergy and the faithful of the Armenian Church. He also stressed that Archbisop Neres’ works and the Holy Martyrs Church would always keep him in the thoughts of the faithful.

Following the Divine Liturgy, prayers were offered to God for the repose of souls of His Eminence. During the service of burial at the graveside, His Eminence Archbishop Pargev Martirosian, Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh, read letters of condolences addressed to the Catholicos of All Armenians, from President of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsian; and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. Archbishop Pargev also conveyed that letters of condolences were received at the Mother See from the Armenian Patriarchates of Jerusalem and Constantinople; President of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh, Bako Sahakian, and from Diocesan Primates world-wide of the Armenian Church. They all expressed their condolences and support to the Pontiff of All Armenians and the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin on the passing of Archbishop Nerses.

Under the singing of Hymns and Psalms, the body of His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Pozapalian was interred in the courtyard of the Holy Martyrs Church.

Present for the burial Service were Primates from various Dioceses of the Armenian Church within Armenia, members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, staff members from various dioceses, faithful, as well as the governor of the Kotayk region Mr. Kovalenko Shahgaldian and representatives of the regional authorities.

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