Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On October 27, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; hosted Rev. Fr. Hayk Qocharyan; Rev. Fr. Hayasa Gharagyozyan; Rev. Fr. Haykazun Sahakyan; Rev. Fr. Armen Kirakosyan; who have completed their 40-day period of seclusion in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

His Grace Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan, Grand Sacristan of the Mother See; introduced the newly ordained priests to His Holiness, assuring that they are ready to bring their pastoral service to the Armenian Church. In his turn, His Grace Bishop Arshak Khachatrian, Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin; who had ordained the priests; expressing his gratitude to His Holiness for entertaining the opportunity to ordain the priests; prayed to Almighty God that the newly ordained reverend fathers will successfully implement their sacred mission under any condition.

Then, the Pontiff of All Armenians extended His Blessings to the Priests on the occasion of the start of their pastoral service, conveying His Pontifical message and exhortation. His Holiness emphasized, that the newly ordained priests start their spiritual service in difficult times for the Armenian people, when all Armenians carry the impact of heavy consequences of the war. According to His Holiness, in such conditions, more than ever, the fully devoted service of the Armenian clergy is important, in order to inspire faith and hope to the Armenian sons passing through these difficult trials; to strengthen their spirit of hopefulness and awareness of a new and prosperous life.

His Holiness importantly noticed that the Priests should be guided by the love and the consciousness of national interest in implementing their mission, in order to be able to stand by the Armenian soldier as a spiritual one and defend the Homeland, as well as, overcome all the difficult conditions. The Armenian Patriarch urged the Priests, that they must put their experience and knowledge gained during their study years in their spiritual service, being inspired and having the example of the life of the holy ancestors, to strengthen the love towards God, the love towards the homeland, and the love towards their children, in the life of the Armenian sons.
At the meeting, His Holiness expressed his appreciation to His Grace Bishop Arshak and His Grace Bishop Hovnan for contributing to the preparation and ordination of the clergy.

With the wish of the brightness of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and the prosperity of the Armenian people to implement their mission with the help of God, the Pontiff of All Armenians blessed the young priests with the “Protector” Prayer and gifted to each of them a hand cross and a communion holder.

In the coming days the priests will be assigned to their first pastoral service.