Ordination of Priests in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On August 29, the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the Feast Day of the Discovery of the Belt of the Holy Mother of God. His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided over the Divine Liturgy during which 4 deacons of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin were ordained to the priesthood. The celebrant and ordaining bishop was His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukian. Prior to evening services on 28 August, the Service of Calling was offered.

During the Divine Liturgy, under the singing of hymns and reading of prayers, Bishop Hovakim consecrated the foreheads, then the right and left hands of the new priests with Holy Chrism (Muron) and gave them new names.

Deacon Manuk Malkhasian was renamed Father Abraham
Deacon Sevak Grigorian was renamed Father Aharon
Deacon Yesayi Kabaghian was renamed Father Geghard
Deacon Artur Gevorgian was renamed Father Sipan

Following their consecration, the new priests gave their first blessing to the faithful present in the Mother Cathedral.

Bishop Hovakim delivered his message to the faithful, stressing the importance of the joyous event in the life of the Armenian Church, during which 4 newly ordained priests were called to spiritual service. In his inspiring sermon His Grace stated in part, “On this Feast Day of the Discovery of the Belt of the Holy Mother of God, this Holy Altar has given birth to 4 new priests. And by the words of St. Ignatius of Antioch, who compared the work of priests to the Apostles, they have to be among the people and preach the Holy Gospel”. Addressing the newly ordained, His Grace called upon them to serve the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Armenian nation with unshakable faith, devotion and zeal, and be responsible for their sacred vocation, leading Armenians on the path of truth and eternity. His Grace extended his congratulations to His Holiness Karekin II, noting that the consecration was a visible expression of the revival of the Armenian Church.

His Holiness and the Members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin ascended the altar and congratulated the new priests, kissing the newly consecrated clergyman on their foreheads and hands.
The same day, the Granting of the Cowl service was offered during Evening Services. Rev. Fr. Sipan was granted the monastic cowl and became a member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin.

Following the traditional 40-day seclusion period, the new priests will be appointed to serve in different Dioceses of the Armenian Church and in different departments of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

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