Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On June 16, in the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Yerevan, an ordination of priests was held under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians during the Divine Liturgy.

During the Divine Liturgy, seven deacons serving in various structures and dioceses of the Mother See were consecrated and ordained by His Grace Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.

During the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan consecrated the candidate's foreheads and hands with Holy Chrism (Muron) and gave them new spiritual names.

Dn. Gevork Stepanyan was renamed Father Karapet; Dn. Edgar Ohanyan was renamed Father Davit; Dn. Vahe Mkrtchyan was renamed Father Barsegh; Dn. Samvel Papikyan was renamed Father Koryun; Dn. Sargis Pahlevanyan was renamed Father Arsen; Dn. Harutyun Melkonyan was renamed Father Shahan and Dn. Garnik Sardaryan was renamed Father Sargis.

Following the consecration, the priests offered their first blessings to the faithful present.

Afterwards, the ordaining Celebrant, in his sermon reflected on the importance of the ordination, told the newly ordained that they are not alone in their priestly service, but the Holy Spirit will guide them with his power.

“Our Lord Jesus Christ says: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, you will receive power and be my witnesses" (cf. Acts 1:8).

We receive the power, beloved, for one purpose, that you may be witnesses of our Lord Jesus Christ. You are priests who carry the graces and power of the Holy Spirit on your foreheads, hearts and hands, and you must testify to Christ in your families, in your city, in the world of Armenia and in different parts of the world," stated Bishop Mesrop, urging the newly ordained priest fathers to constantly testify to the love of Christ and donate their personalities to the brightness of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and to the glory of God.

The Celebrant also expressed his gratitude to His Holiness for the opportunity to perform priestly ordination.

Then during the "Welcome" the present spiritual clergymen and Brotherhood ascended to the Altar and conveyed their congratulations by kissing the anointed foreheads and hands of the new priests. On the same day, in the evening, in the Saint Gayane monastery, a special service of the Granting of the Cowl (Veghar) was officiated.

Father Davit and Father Shahan will receive their cowls and will join the ranks of the Brotherhood of the Mother See Holy Etchmiadzin.

The new priests will follow a traditional 40-day seclusion period of fasting after which they will be appointed to serve in different Dioceses of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church.