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Six New Priests Ordained in Holy Etchmiadzin

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  • Six New Priests Ordained in Holy Etchmiadzin

    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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