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:
DEAC ONS’ ORDINATION IN ANTELIAS
Four students of the Seminary of the Catholiocsate of Cilicia, sub-deacons
Alexan Kalaidjian, Mihran Balkevorkian, Hagop Kortmosian and Hovsep
Loshkhadjian were ordained as deacons in Antelias on June 11.
Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon Bishop Kegham Khatcherian conducted the
ordination service and delivered the sermon to the newly ordained deacons.
During the service, the candidates climbed to the Holy altar on their knees
and turning towards the people, promised to give up earthly pleasures and
dedicate themselves to the Church. The candidates were then ordained and
handed their special deacons’ clothes.
Bishop Khatcherian congratulated the deacons, calling on them to guard their
ranks, preserve sanctity of their clothes and flourish their Christian
values through endless work and efforts. He also spoke about the mission of
the Seminary, where spirituals, intellectuals, teachers and other national
leaders, dedicated to the service of the Armenian Church and nation, are
formed.
"You shall give your best to the Seminary so our nation and Church are
equipped with the best of strength. The Seminary is the building where the
youth form to become servants of the Church and nation. This service is
divine, it is Holy and only suitable people should be invited to take it
up," said the Bishop.
A procession of spirituals then walked towards the Veharan, where His
Holiness Aram I gave his blessings to the newly ordained deacons. The
Pontiff spoke about the transfer of Armenian spiritual-intellectual values
from one generation to the other through the Seminary.
The Catholicos saw the true spiritual man in his loyalty towards biblical
truths, the Armenian Church’s traditions, rites, belief, hymns and the faith
passed on to us by our predecessors.
"We do not have and we won’t have another path. We will form on this path
spiritually, intellectually. The true spiritual servant is he who not only
gives, but also takes. You will open up and flourish with our values. For
more than 1700 years our Church has praised God. Our Church guided our
people towards God through our language, our culture, our traditions, our
values, our conflicts and our dreams. We will always remind you that this is
the path," said the Pontiff.
He added: "By way of Christianity God approached nations through their
culture and language. This is the path of a spiritual’s service: bringing
God close to God. Our Holy See will always be committed and demanding
towards this issue with spirituals of all ranks, with its Seminary, with its
Brotherhood, with its dioceses and with our youth and people. More than
ever, our Church should accomplish itself in the life of our people through
service. And that service is nothing but becoming the live and life-giving
presence of Christ’s Holy Book."
The Pontiff also praised the Seminary’s principal and staff, considering
their contribution to be fruitful in the formation of the students.
Seminary students then sang "Cilicia", "I Veh Partsants" and "Der Getso",
after which the Pontiff blessed the newly ordained deacons with
"Bahbanitch."
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View photos here:
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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 Theological
Seminary of the 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.