Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On February 17, in Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; the annual Clergy Conference was held, which was attended by 231 clergymen from the Armenian Dioceses; Diocesan Primates and the Brotherhood of the Mother See.

On this occasion, under the chairmanship of the Catholicos of All Armenians; a Divine Liturgy was offered in the Holy Mother of God Church of the Armavir Diocese (Etchmiadzin city).

The Celebrant was Rev. Fr. Hamazasp Hageyan, Spiritual Pastor of Holy Savior Church in Charentsavan of the Kotayk Diocese.

In his sermon, Rev. Fr. Hamazasp Hageyan specifically stated: “The sacrament of Vardan and Ghevond the Priests is like a ray that has begun and does not end and it continues into the present day. It is the sacred mission and process of our national identity and preservation, loyalty towards our Christian faith, and the strengthening and building of the Motherland”.

Father Hamazasp also stated that even today the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church continues to be faithful to the message of Ghevond the Priests, which is clearly evidenced by the clergy's participation in the last Artsakh war. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the clergymen gathered in the Audience hall of the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary, where an award ceremony was held.

The opening remarks of the Conference were made by His Eminence Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahian, Primate of the Diocese of Shirak and the Head of the Organizing Committee.

Afterwards, the traditional Award Ceremony was held. In appreciation of their long-term devoted and productive pastoral service to the Armenian Church, a number of clergymen were awarded the honor of Archpriest, as well as the right to wear the flowered cope and Pectoral Cross.

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Aleksanyan from the Diocese of Kotayk was elevated to the rank of Archpriest. Rev. Fr. Paren Arakelyan and Rev. Fr. Vrtanes Baghalyan from the Diocese of Aragatsotn were granted the right to wear the flowered cope.

Rev. Fr. Artavazd Simonyan from the Diocese of Gougark; Rev. Fr. Daniel Mkrtchyan and Rev. Fr. Harutyun Hunanyan from the Diocese of Gegharkunik; Rev. Fr. Garegin Sargsyan from the Diocese of Shirak; Rev. Fr. Sepuh Hakobyan, Rev. Fr. Husik Dokholyan and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Hovhannisyan from the Diocese of Artsakh; Rev. Fr. Trdat Gevorgyan from the Armenian Church Chaplaincy of the RA Armed Forces; Rev. Fr. Maghakia Gevorgyan form the Diocese of Aragatsotn; Rev. Fr. Nerses Ashughababyan and Rev. Fr. Aram Karapetyan from the Diocese of Vayots Dzor; Rev. Fr. Tigran Hakobyan form the Diocese of Syunik; Rev. Fr. Mambre Hmayakyan and Rev. Fr. Artashes Hakobyan from the Armenian Diocese of Ukraine were granted the right to wear the Pectoral Cross.

At the end of the Award Ceremony, the Catholicos of All Armenians conveyed His Blessings and Pontifical message to the clergy and congratulated them on the occasion of the Feast. His Holiness stated: “These annual gatherings organized in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, are an opportunity to re-examine the messages handed down to us from the depths of the centuries and to strengthen our faithful mission with the spirit and patriotism of Saints Ghevond and Vardan the Priests”.

“The struggle for the protection of our national identity, our faith and spiritual values, our statehood, the right of our brothers and sisters in Artsakh to live freely has become an unceasing, unending reality for our people. The worrying developments around Armenia and Artsakh, the problems in the national and domestic life, the external challenges have faced the nation and the motherland with serious security and ontological problems, like in the times of Saints Vardan the Priests”, stated His Holiness Karekin II, noting that the Armenian people can overcome the created difficult situation with the power of their faith, strong will, united efforts and constant reliance on God.

The Catholicos of All Armenians, emphasizing the greater effectiveness of efforts and service in the mission of the spiritual servants in the conditions of the existing challenges, especially in the field of education and preaching, stated: “It is very important to instil spiritual and moral values in people's hearts, to strengthen the national spirit and patriotism, because the vicious phenomena and many issues that concern us are mainly the result of the retreat in the field of values, the weakening of traditional perceptions. We should strengthen preaching with various educational programs, as well as with the opportunities provided by modern technologies, to strengthen the faith, hope and love of our people through the teaching of the Bible and the full knowledge of our Holy Church."

In the worrisome situation created by the 44-day war, His Holiness emphasized the pastoral care for individual groups in need of spiritual and psychological support.

"Special attention should be paid to the families of the dead, wounded, captured and missing, as well as to the families of Artsakh displaced or separated due to the closed Lachin corridor. One of our primary obligations is to connect children and young people with our Church in order to protect them from the many delusions and temptations of today's world with the light of the Gospel and the blessing of our Holy Church”, stated the Catholicos of All Armenians.

Reflecting with gratitude on the social works of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Armenian dioceses, which have been expanded in recent years with the support of worldwide church structures and benevolent devoted Armenians, His Holiness expressed his appreciation to the diocesan Primates and pastors for the zeal shown in this important mission.

Highly appreciating the zealous and dedicated service of the clergymen, the Armenian Pontiff urged: “Empowered by Christ, be brave, noble and courageous in your spiritual ministry, to lead our people on the path of truth in order to overcome the wrong processes and phenomena disrupting our patriotic and national life. Through patriotic and ecclesiastical service and with the indomitable spirit of an ever-vigilant pastor, continue to make efforts for the sake of the brightness of the Armenian Church and the well-being of the spiritual life of our people."

Then, the Patriarch of All Armenians congratulated the clergy who received awards and honours, wishing them effective service and new achievements in their honourable mission.

His Holiness also announced that His Grace Bishop Vasken Mirzakhanyan, Director of the Office of Social Doctrine of the Mother See; His Grace Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan, Primate of the Diocese of Tavoush and His Grace Bishop Arshak Khachatryan, Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin were honoured with the honour of the Archbishop.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Armenian Pontiff prayed for the prosperous life of our people, for the peace and security of our homeland, Armenia and Artsakh.