PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
May 2, 2004
Six New Priests Ordained in Holy Etchmiadzin
On May 2, Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Mother Cathedral of Holy
Etchmiadzin, with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians, presiding. The celebrant was His Grace Bishop Abraham
Mkrtichian, Primate of the Diocese of Syunik (Armenia). During the
celebration of the Liturgy, six deacons of the Mother See were ordained to
the priesthood.
On the previous evening, prior to Evening Services, a public examination of
the orthodox faith of the six candidates was conducted. The two sponsoring
priests bore witness to the worthiness and spiritual preparedness of the
potential priests. The candidates unanimously rejected, renounced and
anathematized the heretics and schismatics, and stated their oath to remain
faithful to Jesus Christ, and the faith of the Holy Apostles, blessed
patriarchs and doctors of the Church. As a visible sign of their orthodoxy,
they recited the Creed formulated by Saint Gregory of Datev.
On Sunday, during the Divine Liturgy, the six deacons, ascended to the Main
Altar of the Mother Cathedral on bended knees as the sponsoring priests
recited psalms. Turning to face westward, the candidates raised their hands
with their palms open as a sign of their renunciation of the secular life.
Under the singing of hymns, the Holy Chrism was brought to the Holy Altar,
and the ordaining bishop individually consecrated each new priest’s
forehead, as well as the palms of their right and left hands, and called
them by their new priestly names.
Deacon Haroutiun Derderian became Father Tadeos; Deacon Vardan Isakhanian
was renamed Father Andreas; Deacon Sargis Kirakosian became Father Datev;
Deacon Arman Hakobian was renamed Father Zaven; Deacon Edgar Hakobian became
Father Makar; and Deacon Mushegh Sargisian was renamed Father Shnork.
Afterwards, Bishop Abraham handed each of them the communion chalice,
transferring to them the authority and right to celebrate the Divine
Liturgy, and distribute the Holy Eucharist – the Body and Blood of Our Lord
Jesus Christ, to the faithful.
Following the conclusion of the ordination service, His Holiness Karekin II,
the bishops, members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, and all married
priests in attendance ascended the bema and congratulated the six newly
ordained priests by kissing their anointed foreheads and hands.
During Evening Services later in the day, three of the priests (Father
Zaven, Father Makar and Father Shnork) received their cowls and took their
oath of celibacy, promising to always remain loyal servants of the Armenian
Apostolic Holy Church, the Catholicosate of All Armenians and the Mother See
of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The six new priests of the Armenian Church have entered their forty days of
seclusion as they prepare to celebrate their first Divine Liturgy through
prayer, fasting and meditation.
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