ORDINATION OF PRIESTS AT ST. GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR MOTHER CATHEDRAL IN YEREVAN

On Sunday, February 4, 2024, an ordination service took place at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Yerevan, presided over by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The Celebrant was His Grace Bishop Oshagan Gulgulian, Primate of the Armenian Church Diocese of Iraq.

During the Liturgy, Bishop Oshagan ordained and consecrated the following 11 deacons to the Holy Order of Priesthood and named them as follows:

Dn. Artak Ghevondyan was renamed Father Komitas; Dn. Davit Hayrapetyan was renamed Father Vardan; Dn. Davit Hayrapetyan was renamed Father Ghevond; Dn. Gevork Mirzoyan was renamed Father Artak; Dn. Loris Andreasyan was renamed Father Vasken; Dn. Narek Torgomyan was renamed Father Hovhannes; Dn. Andranik Minasyan was renamed Father Grigor; Dn. Samvel Baghdasaryan was renamed Father Sepuh; Dn. Sevak Grigoryan was renamed Father Yesai; Dn. Robert Voskanyan was renamed Father Voskan and Dn. Garik Hokhanyan was renamed father Ghukas.

In his sermon the ordaining bishop reflected on the importance of the ordination and exhorted them to be faithful in their calling, firm in their faith and serve the Lord with fervor.

“Dear newly ordained priests” the bishop said, “your mission shall begin soon; be brave shepherds, offer your services to the Armenian Church and the people, especially in these difficult days, when all kinds of trials and challenges surround us. Be alert and strong and serve your flock well.  Today, more than ever, our people long for your encouraging words, for your prayers and for your consoling words….Let the Word of Christ be your shield,  your sword and your cross for you, so you may serve the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church without fail”, concluded His Grace, and urged the faithful to pray for the newly ordained priests for them to remain strong and firm in their Holy Order.

During the Kiss of Peace, lead by His Holiness, all clergymen ascended to the Altar, offered their congratulations, kissed the anointed hands and the foreheads of the newly ordained priests and recieved the “inaugural Kiss of Peace” from them.

In the evening, a special service of the Granting of the Cowl (Veghar) was conducted at the Saint Gayane monastery.  Thus, Father Hovhannes, Father Grigor, Father Yesai, Father Voskan and Father Ghukas join the ranks of the Brotherhood [celibate priests] of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

The newly ordained clergymen will observe a traditional 40-day seclusion period of fasting and prayer, after which they will be appointed to serve in various Dioceses of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church.