Awards Ceremony on the Feast of St. Ghevond the Priest
26.02.2019
Catholicos of All Armenians: “It is a firmly established society on spiritual values that can build his own life”
On February 26, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church celebrated the Feast of St. Ghevond the Priest. On the occasion of the feast The event was attended by diocesan primates, members of the Brotherhood of the Mother See and 230 priests from the dioceses. The ceremony was held in the ‘Hrach and Susan Tufayan’ Youth Center of Etchmiadzin. Under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; the awards ceremony was held.
Following the Lord’s Prayer, His Grace Bishop Mikael Ajapahyan; Primate of the Diocese of Shirak, welcomed the clergy in commemorating the Feast of St. Ghevond the Priest. On the occasion of this joyful feast, Bishop Mikael congratulated His Holiness and all the clergymen of the Armenian Church and stated that the feast is a call for renewal for all clergymen, so that the deeds of St. Ghevond the Priest accompany them for life.
Following opening remarks, the awards ceremony was held. In appreciation of the dedicated and efficient service and earnings in the Church life, His Holiness has elevated His Grace Bishop Sion Adamyan, Primate of the Diocese of Armavir; His Grace Bishop Michael Ajapahyan, Primate of the Diocese of Shirak and His Grace Bishop Movses Movsisyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of South Russia to the rank of Archbishop.
The right to wear the Pectoral Cross was granted to Rev. Fr. Hovsep Sargsyan, (Ararat Patriarchal Diocese); Rev. Fr. Paren Petrosyan (Diocese of Shirak); Rev. Fr. Mkhitar Aharonyan (Diocese of Aragatsotn); Rev. Fr. Avetis Makaryan (Harijavank Trpanchyan High School); Rev. Fr. Artsrun Mikaelyan (Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy of Kolkata); Rev. Fr. Tachat Barseghyan; Rev. Fr. Yeznik Mardiryan; Rev. Fr. Nahapet Karapetyan and Rev. Fr. Mambre Voskanyan (Diocese of Gougark); Rev. Fr. Mashtots Hmayakyan (Diocese of Kotayk); Rev. Fr. Serovbe Patvakanyan (Diocese of Artsakh); Rev. Fr. Kirakos Simonyan; Rev. Fr. Narek Tigranyan and Rev. Fr. Gevork Asatryan ( Armenian Diocese of Georgia); Rev. Fr. Kerovbe Barseghyan and Rev. Fr. Hovhannes Grigoryan (Armenian Diocese of Russia and New Nakhichevan); Rev. Fr. Davit Margaryan; Rev. Fr. Hrant Margaryan and Rev. Fr. Hayari Tanashyan (Armenian Diocese of Canada); Rev. Fr. Njdeh Keshishyan (Armenian Diocese of Bulgaria).
His Holiness also granted the following priests the right to wear the flowered cope: Rev. Fr. Yeznik Galstanyan; Rev. Fr. Pavstos Sargsyan and Rev. Fr. Nshan Panfiorov (Diocese of Shirak); Rev. Fr. Harutyun Tsaturyan and Rev. Fr. Mashtots Babayan (Diocese of Kotayk); Rev. Fr. Soghomon Avetisyan (Diocese of Gougark); Rev. Fr. Mambre Paturyan and Rev. Fr. Moushe Vahanyan (Diocese of Aragatsotn); Rev. Fr. Mkrtich Grigoryan; Rev. Fr. Narek Amiryan and Rev. Fr. Nerses Shahnazaryan (Armenian Diocese of Ukraine); Rev. Fr. Hakob Hakobyan (Armenian Diocese of Egypt); Rev. Fr. Andreas Isakhanyan (Central European and Swedish Pontifical Delegation).
At the end of the Award Ceremony, the Catholicos of All Armenians offered his appreciation and blessing remarks.
His Holiness expressed joy for the traditional gathering, when clergy from various dioceses travel to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on the occasion of the feast of St. Ghevond the Priest, to renew their priestly and service covenant.
“Today, our people, the Armenian clergy and our Church stand in the defense of their national-spiritual values, as long as the attacks do not stop towards our national, spiritual identity and the disturbing phenomena that distort and undermine the millennial value system. However, this does not always mean restraint or intolerance”, stated His Holiness.
Recalling the words of Archimandrite Yeghishe, "Unity is the mother of good deeds, and disunity is the birth of evil deeds”, His Holiness highlighted the preservation of the unity in the public life.
… “There are many challenges and the temptations and trials of the 21st century are also not less harmful. All of this should move us to be more vigilant, active and diligent in our service. We are convinced that the society, firmly established on spiritual values, is able to build a life of spirituality”, said the Catholicos of All Armenians, urging the representatives of the clergy to dedicate their service to our nation and our homeland.
Asking for God's blessing and support to all, the Armenian Pontiff also extended his appreciation to the Primates, who have put all their efforts so that the Church further strengthens in its mission, and continues to be peoples’ hope and support.
