"St. Gregory the Illuminator" Medals Awarded in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
On May 23, upon the Pontifical Encyclical of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the ?St. Gregory the Illuminator? medal was granted to benefactors of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin: Dn. and Mrs. Charles and Grace Pinajian; Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis and Ruth Bedevian; and Mr. and Mrs. Noubar and Anita Jessourian. Additionally, a Pontifical Letter of Blessing was awarded to Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Juliette Apelian. The benefactors from the United States were bestowed with the highest honor of the Armenian Church in recognition for their dedicated service to the Church and Motherland.
On that occasion, a solemn ceremony was held in the Reception Hall of the Official Residence of the Catholicos (Veharan) and presided by His Holiness. During the ceremony, the Catholicos granted the benefactors their medals as the Encyclicals were read by His Grace Bishop Navasard Kjoyan. In his encyclical, the Catholicos states, ?the Church is unwavering and living thanks to the presence of her faithful children, who by means of their kind works and deeds, prove their dedication to the Savior, the nation and the Motherland.?
Among their numerous projects and activities which benefit the Armenian Church, the benefactors from the United States were the earliest sponsors of the Vazkenian Theological Seminary of Sevan, Armenia. Mr. John Ordway, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the USA to the Republic of Armenia, Diocesan Primates, Members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, and numerous faithful attended the ceremony.
