Clergy Conference in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

1/3/2011

On February 28 and March 1, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians presided over the annual clergy conference, convened in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The conference was held on the occasion of the Feast of St. Ghevond the Priest and His Companions. Diocesan Primates and over 250 clergymen from various departments of the Mother See and parishes from the Armenia and Artsakh Dioceses participated in the sessions. The topic of discussion was “Family and the Spiritual pastor”.

The opening remarks were made by His Grace Bishop Mikayel Ajapahian, Primate of the Diocese of Shirak who served as the facilitator for the meeting. On behalf of the clergymen His Grace extended his appreciation to the Armenian Pontiff for the opportunity to gather in the Mother See and receive his blessings and fatherly instructions. Bishop Mikayel congratulated the clergymen on the occasion of the forthcoming feast wishing them success in their pastoral mission.

Following the opening remarks, Rev. Fr. Shahe Ananian, Member of the Brotherhood of the Mother See, presented a report on the topic “Family and the Spiritual Pastor” which was discussed by the clergymen. Following the discussions the clergymen issued the following statement:

“We, as the spiritual servants of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church, having discussed the challenges facing the Armenian family, stress with importance the unique values and nation preserving mission of the family, in the life of the Armenian State and society. For centuries the divinely-established commandment of marriage has been the base for the traditional Armenian family – like the features of a chapel – which are faithfulness to the Church and patriotism, family devoutness, and loyalty towards moral and spiritual values. All these have been blessed and sanctified by the great Sacrament of Holy Matrimony along with the concept that, “So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (Mathew 19:6).

However, during our pastoral services, we witness the anxiety causing effects existing in public consciousness and behavior, which are due to the weakness of our spiritual life and traditional-moral values, processes of globalization and secularism, and social and economical difficulties. Today the Armenian family is facing moral issues such as the misunderstanding of the concept of marriage and the sacrament of matrimony, the decline of the sense of responsibility towards spouse and also family as well as towards national-spiritual education of the children. The unwanted results of such concerns and condition are adultery, family violence, abortion and other unnecessary actions. The destructive activities of various religious organizations and movements result in distortion of ordinary life of the Armenian family, often bringing sad consequences.

Concerned with all these, we stress the necessity of contributing more active efforts to our pastoral service for the strengthening of our Church and centuries-old family ties with everyday care, with church sacraments and services, with active pre-marital and marital spiritual-counseling services to couples.

We exhort all the couples to display more responsibility towards marriage, keeping in mind our God-worshiping fathers, and to accept the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony as an indivisible sacred union of unselfish love, mutual aid and care.

With this in mind, we stress the importance of public collaboration – individuals, social and public institutions, and mass media, for the reinforcement of traditional values of the Armenian family and for the prevention of infringement on family sanctities.

We raise our prayers to Heaven asking our Lord for the peaceful, safe and prosperous life of our country, so that with reverential trust to the Resurrected Christ and with national and spiritual unity, we continue our contribution to the resolution of the current challenges facing the Armenian family.

We do believe that all kinds of difficulties facing our social life will be conquered if within us prevails the faith towards God, love and trust towards each other, for the Homeland and the Mother Church, and loyalty towards our national values and the traditions of our ancestors”.

At the conclusion of the meeting His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, extended his Pontifical message to the clergymen in attendance. His Holiness expressed his gratitude to His Grace Bishop Mikhayel and the Diocesan Primates for bringing their service to the organization of the conference and congratulated the clergymen on the occasion of the Feast of St. Ghevond the Priest and His Companions, exhorting them to continue their spiritual mission with a full understanding of the gravity of their vocation – to satisfy the spiritual needs of the faithful.

The Pontiff of All Armenians discussed the modernity of strengthening the relationship between the Armenian family and the Church. His Holiness reflected that the pastors should provide spiritual education with pastoral devotion and unyielding service, to young women and men from the time of their youth, in order to prepare young families to face various kinds of difficulties and temptations. Reflecting on the role and mission of the clergymen, His Holiness stated in part, “Our task is to preach and establish peace, love and reconciliation in family life and friendships… We, as the clergymen have more responsibilities towards our nation to organize their spiritual-moral life. We must give them Christian education so that we will have Armenian offspring with a Christian spirit, and benevolence, creating God and Church-loving feelings with deep faith. That duty is our mission”.

Reflecting on service to the Church His Holiness noted that there was enormous work facing the Church. “That work should not lead us to despair and desolation, but on the contrary, to flame devotion within so that we make much efforts to our service”, stated His Holiness, exhorting the priests to do their best for making the life of the Armenian brighter, to be more useful for the children of our nation, fostering the optimistic, God-loving and patriotic spirit within them.

At the conclusion of the conference, on the Eve of the Feast of St. Ghevond the Priest and His Companions, the clergymen participated in the Evening Services at the Mother Cathedral.

On March 1, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Mother Cathedral in honor of the Feast of St. Ghevondiants. The celebrant was Rev. Fr. Gegham Khesablian, Spiritual pastor of the Church of St. Harutiun in Parakhar, Diocese of Armavir. In his sermon, Father Gegham reflected on the mystery and meaning of the feast in our national life.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy a granting ceremony was held in the Pontifical Residence. On the occasion of the feast, the Pontiff of All Armenians elevated Rev. Fr. Mkrtich Tovmasian and Re. Fr. Koriun Martirosian from the Araratian Pontifical Diocese and Rev. Fr. Gegham Khesablian to the rank of Archpriest.

His Holiness granted the following priests the honor to wear the ornamented cope: from the Diocese of Artsakh – Rev. Fr. Minas Movsisian, Rev. Fr. Emanouel Vardanian; from the Monastery of Sevan – Rev. Fr. Minas Martirosyan; from the Diocese Southern Russia – Rev. Fr. Sargis Poghosian; from the Mother Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Yerevan – Rev. Fr. Ghevond Mayilian.

His Holiness granted the following priests the right to wear pectoral crosses: from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin – Rev. Fr. Sipan Grigorian, Rev. Fr. Sedrak Aznavurian and Hovhannes Khesablian; from the Araratian Pontifical Diocese – Yeznik Malkhasian and Rev. Fr. Yeprem Harutiunian; from the Diocese of Shirak – Rev. Fr. Stephanos Avetisian, Rev. Fr. Hovhannes Aleksandrian, Rev. Fr. Varag Hakobian; from the Diocese of Vayots Dzor – Rev. Fr. Galust Sahakian; from the Diocese of Aragatsotn – Rev. Fr. Vigen Maukian; from the Diocese of Kotayk – Rev. Fr. Vrtanes Baghumian, Rev. Fr. Aristakes Baghalian and Rev. Fr. Jirayr Khachatrian; from the Diocese of Gegharqunik – Rev. Fr. Nshan Sargsian, Rev. Fr. Mesrop Yeritsian and Rev. Fr. Nersesh Sahakian; from the Diocese of Tavush- Rev. Fr. Aram Mirzoyan; from the Army Chaplaincy – Rev. Fr. Arsen Saoyan, from the Diocese of Georgia – Rev. Fr. Tatev Mroukian, Rev. Fr. Movses Manukian, Rev. Fr. Ararat Gumbalian and Tigran Mkhitarian, from the Diocese of Vayots Dzor – Rev. Fr. Sepuh Harutiunian.

Source: