Order of St. Gregory the Illuminator Medal Awarded to His Eminence Archbishop Paren Avetikyan

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin – 18/1/17

On January 15, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; a Divine Liturgy was offered in the Mother Cathedral, during which an awards ceremony was held.

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, granted the Order of St. Gregory the Illuminator to His Eminence Archbishop Paren Avetikyan, member of Brotherhood of Mother See, as recognition and appreciation of his deeds and service to the Armenian Church.

Under the singing of the “Etchmiadzin I Hore”, the Pontifical Encyclical was brought to the Holy Altar by His Grace Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan, Grand Sacristan of the Mother Cathedral. His Grace Bishop Vardan Navasardyan, Director of the Christian Education Center of Mother See read the Encyclical which stated in part: “Dear Bishop, it brings us great joy to offer our Pontifical blessing and best wishes to you.

oday, we have a chance to reflect on your dedicated service in the life of our Apostolic Holy Church. After completing your spiritual study in the Antelias Seminary and then in the Jerusalem Theological Seminary, you took a vow at the Holy Altar of our Lord for a covenant of faithful service to our nation and church, and assumed the mission of celibate clergymen in the life of our nation.

You were entrusted to service in the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, then by the will of God you were called to pastoral service in the Eastern Diocese of the USA, where for many years with increasing zeal, you provided spiritual food to our faithful children. Your service in the Detroit community became an important milestone in your mission. Through your tireless pastoral devotion you united our pious children around the Church, and through good works and initiatives you added brightness to the God-preserving community. One of the most important achievements in the history of the Detroit parish is the Alex Manoogian Museum adjacent to St. John the Baptist Church, which you founded during your tenure, donating also numerous pieces of your personal collection to the museum. Today we are pleased to confirm that both in the Diocese of Shirak and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, you have served with devotion and utmost care in your duties.

Your life is adorned with charitable activities, which you implement with spontaneous commitment and special modesty. You use your personal savings for the brilliance of our Holy Church and also encourage many Armenians through your example. Your support towards children deprived of parental care is especially praiseworthy, who through your help overcome the difficulties of life, and become strengthened by faith and optimism…”

Following the reading of the Pontifical Encyclical, the Catholicos of All Armenians granted the Order of St. Gregory the Illuminator to His Eminence Archbishop Paren Avetikyan.

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