Newest Priest and Member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin
30.04.2004
On April 24 and 25, Deacon Aren Jebejian was ordained and consecrated a celibate priest in Saint Vartan Armenian Cathedral of New York by His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern).
On Tuesday, April 27, Rev. Father Aren Jebejian arrived in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to receive his cowl (veghar) and begin his forty days of seclusion in preparation for the celebration of his first Divine Liturgy. During Evening Services, His Grace Bishop Navasard Kjoyan, Vicar of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese, presided during Father Aren's recitation of his oath to remain faithful to Jesus Christ, the teachings, canons and traditions of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, and to remain a loyal and devoted servant of the Catholicosate of All Armenians and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. In reciting and signing this oath before the Main Altar of the Mother Cathedral of All Armenians, Father Aren became the newest member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Bishop Navasard then offered the service of "Granting of the Cowl", whereby Father Aren became the newest "abegha" (monk) of the Armenian Church. The cowl is the black hood worn by celibate priests in the Armenian Church, signifying their renunciation of the secular world and its pleasures, and as a visible symbol of their devotion to service and sacrifice.
With the addition of Father Aren, the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin currently consists of 49 bishops, 83 celibate priests (archimandrites and monks) and 54 deacons who bring their spiritual service to the Dioceses of the Armenian Church dispersed throughout the world. Following the celebration of his first Divine Liturgy, Rev. Father Aren Jebejian will return to the Eastern Diocese to continue his service to the faithful of the United States.
