Clergy Conference Held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On 5 February 2013, on the occasion of the Feast of St. Ghevond the Priest and his Companions, a Clergy Conference was held at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The main conference agenda item was: “The organization and functioning of parish life and Church structures in the Dioceses” (Parish Councils, Women’s Societies, Youth Organizations etc…). Among the attendees were religious leaders from the Dioceses of Armenia and Artsakh, members of the Brotherhood of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and 169 religious servants from the Dioceses.

In the morning over two hundred twenty clergymen attended Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral, under the presidency of the Catholicos of All Armenians. The celebrant was Reverend Father Paren Arakelian, Parish Priest in the Shirak Diocese, Amassia region.

Following the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Priests opened their now traditional Clergy Conference in the auditorium of the Gevorgian Theological Seminary Events Center. His Grace Bishop Mikael Ajapahian, Primate of the Diocese of Shirak, welcomed the priests and delivered opening remarks. His Grace congratulated the clergyman on the occasion of feast, encouraging them to renew their vows to the Church and stay faithful to the example of Ghevondiants, living life as a solider of Jesus Christ and the nation.

Reverend Father Paren Arakelian (Shirak Diocese), Reverend Father Vrtanes Baghalian (Gougark Diocese) presented reports to the meeting’s participants. A discussion was then held on issues relating to the Diocesan parishes and organizational parish infrastructures, as well as on current challenges facing the national- church –life. As a result of the discussions the clergy issued the following statement:

“We; the Holy Servants of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church, give thanks to God who has created this opportunity for us to come together in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin around the Pontiff of All Armenians on the Feast of St. Ghevond the Priest and his Companions, to renew our religious vows and strengthen in our vocation and pastoral mission for us all. The deeds of St. Ghevond serve us as an example of unwavering faith to God; love and fidelity to the Homeland; and endless devotion and responsibility to her people. The proper planning and administration of parish life is of key importance to the complete implementation of our Church mission.

The parish infrastructures including Parish Councils, Women and Youth organizations, and Sunday schools have the unique mission of fulfilling the religious needs of our faithful people, engage the community, and promote the renewal of universal spirituality. In this regard, we urge the children of the Armenian Apostolic Church to support the Church and her Servants with their active participation for the benefit of the efficient planning and organization of parish life.

We express our deep concern regarding the recent painful event in our nation’s life the assault on Paruyr Hayrikyan; Repblic of Armenia Presidential Candidate. We condemn this criminal act, which is aimed against both the individual and our entire society. We urge our people to live in a spirit of love and unity and be more unified, keeping together for the sake of our nation’s and Homeland’s interests.

We pray to Lord; our Saviour , and with the intercessions of the St. Ghevondiants Priests, to keep and protect our nation in the Diaspora and Homeland and give security, peace and vibrancy to the Church.”

In commemoration of the feast day, and in appreciation for their devoted service, His Holiness issued Pontifical Encyclicals, granting nine priests the honor to wear the ornamented cope: Father Hagob Khacharian from the Araratian Pontifical Diocese; Father Karapet Karapetian, Father David Kyureghian, and Father Sahak Martirossian from the Vayots Dzor Diocese; Father Partev Ashourian from the Armavir Diocese; Father Yeghishe Karsian and Father Hovnan Matevossian from the Kotayk Diocese; and Father Isahak Margarian and Father Varoujan Terterian from the Shirak Diocese.

His Holiness also granted thirteen priests the right to bear pectoral crosses: Father Yervand Babayan from the Araratian Pontifical Diocese; Father Partev Mouradian and Father Levon Hovhannissian from the Artik Diocese; Father Yeghishe Nazarian and Father Masis Varderessian from the Armavir Diocese; Father Zohrab Manassian from the Kotayk Diocese; Father Stepanos Hovhannissian from the Syuniats Diocese; Father Housik Grigorian from the Shirak Diocese; Father Paren Arakelian and Father Simeon Movsissian from the Diocese of the Armenian Armed Forces, and Father Hambardzoum Danielian, Father Zakaria Ananian and Father Sevak Gabrielian from the St. Gregory the Illuminator Mother Cathedral in Yerevan.

At the conclusion of the meeting, His Holiness expressed his appreciation and gave his Pontifical blessing to the clergyman. In his remarks, he reflected on the concept of sacrifice and the Feast day of St. Ghevond the Priest and His Companions saying in part; “The St. Ghevondiants Priests have been the best example of religious leadership, which is to love God and the Homeland, and organize your mission on the basis of love for God and love of the Homeland, which is the salvation for every faithful Armenian child.”

In his remarks the Catholicos of All Armenians touched upon the issues of planning the life of religious communities, emphasizing the importance of the spirit and dedication of the spiritual leader in the communities. “Church life and her administrative leadership will support the efficient implementation of the spiritual mission from the perspective of a Christian upbringing and education. And bearing in mind the concept of building the national life on the basis of spiritual and moral values, will build our nation’s identity on the basis of the commandments and precepts of Christ’s Gospel as well as prevent the increase of sects in Armenia” – said the Pontiff of All Armenians.

His Holiness expressed his appreciation to all spiritual leaders of the Armenian Church and all those Armenians who support them in their pastoral missions. The Pontiff of All Armenians encouraged them to resemble the Ghevondiants’ priests and empower the Church and Church mission in the nation’s life with their responsible spiritual service.

Following the conclusion of the conference, the clergymen participated in Evening Services.

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