PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
ORDINATION AND ANOINTING OF BISHOPS IN ANTELIAS
His Holiness Aram I ordained and anointed V. Rev. Khoren Doghramdjian,
prelate of the Diocese of Greece and V. Rev. Shahan Sarkisian, prelate of
the Diocese of Aleppo, as bishops on April 9 and 10.
On the evening of Saturday April 9, the vowing ceremony of the new bishops
was held in St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. Certificates from the
Dioceses of Greece and Aleppo, proposing that the primates be appointed as
bishops, were read during the service, by V. Rev. Krikor Chiftjian the
Master of Ceremonies.
The two primates declared their faithfulness to the creed of the Orthodox
Church. Then they read their vows and publicly announced their loyalty to
the Catholicosate of Cilicia, His Holiness Aram I and their readiness to
serve the Armenian Church and people.
On Sunday April 10 the anointing service was held. The service was conducted
by His Holiness Aram I. Bishops Kegham Khatcherian and Nareg Alemezian
joined His Holiness.
His Holiness anointed Bishop Khoren and Bishop Shahan with the Holy Chrism
and handed them the staff and Ring of bishops. After anointing the bishops,
His Holiness gave a special sermon, during which he stressed that the newly
anointed bishops will become servants of the Cathilcosate’s mission. His
Holiness emphasized the importance of keeping the vow to remain loyal to the
traditions of the Armenian Church and the principle of the Catholicosate of
Cilicia.
“The reason and the aim of the existence of our Holy See and your existence
are only to serve this people. Your worthiness, greatness, glory and pride
are in this service,” His Holiness said, adding: “The Armenian Church, with
all its hierarchal Sees exists as one entity for our people. And you are
called to be the servants of that unity through your dedication and
devotion.”
Members of the Cilician brotherhood, clergy guests and a large number of
faithful from Aleppo, Greece and Lebanon congratulated the bishops after the
service.
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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.