Dome Crosses Consecrated for the Holy Archangels Church of the Mother See
23.08.2011
On August 23, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; presided over the consecration service of the dome Crosses for the Holy Archangels Church, being built next to the Gevorkian Theological Seminary.
The ground blessing ceremony of the Church of Holy Archangels was held on September 10, 2007. The benefactor of the Church is Mr. Gagik Galstian, President of the Constructors’ Union of the Republic of Armenia; and the architect is Mr. Jim Torosian. The Church is being built by a local company, "Horizon-95".
A procession of clergy escorted His Holiness from the Pontifical Residence to the newly built Church, where the consecration of the Crosses was held outside of the Church. Under the singings of hymns, the clergymen washed the dome Crosses of the Church with water and wine. Following the readings of the Holy Scripture and prayers, the Catholicos of All Armenians consecrated the Cross of the Cupola with Holy Muron. The other four Crosses were consecrated by His Eminence Archbishop Tatev Sargsian, Spiritual Pastor of the St. Nerses the Great Hospital; His Grace Bishop Arshak Khachatrian, Chancellor of the Mother See; His Grace Bishop Artak Tigranian, Dean of the Monasteries; and His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manoukian, Director of the Inter Church Relations Department of the Mother See.
Afterwards, under the singing of hymns, Rev. Fr. Hovnan Hakobian, Grand Sacristan of the Mother See, censed the crosses. The clergy and faithful led, by the Armenian Pontiff, bowed and kissed the newly consecrated Crosses.
At the conclusion of the ceremony the Armenian Pontiff gave his blessings to the people in attendance. Expressing his joy for the occasion His Holiness stated in part, “Here is that wonderful moment when our faithful offspring after the blessing of the Crosses can come close to the blessed Crosses and receive many blessings which beam from the Crosses ”. The Armenian Pontiff conveyed his wish that with the blessing of God the spirits and lives of the faithful would be illuminated, so that the beautiful feelings of glorification, God-loving, and patriotism always live in their hearts and souls. At the end His Holiness extended his blessings and appreciation to the benefactor and architecture of the Church.
