Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On October 8, Episcopal ordinations and consecrations were held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.During the celebration of Divine Liturgy in the St. Trdat Open Altar, Rev. Fr. Archimandrite Oshakan Gyulgyulyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Iraq; Proto Archimandrite Theodoros Zakaryan, Chairman of the Assembly of Directors of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem; Rev. Fr. Archimandrite Mesrop Parsamyan, Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America; Rev. Fr. Archimandrite Koryun Baghdasaryan, Dean of the manor of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and Rev. Fr. Archimandrite Kirakos Davtyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Georgia were consecrated, ordained and elevated in rank, by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

Diocesan Primates of the Armenian Church, representatives from the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, benefactors of the Mother See, pilgrims from Armenia, the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, Iraq and Armenian Diocese of Syria arrived in Holy Etchmiadzin on the occasion of the sacred ceremonies.

On the previous day, in the morning, the service of candidature was held in the St. Trdat Open Altar, during which the bishops reaffirmed their covenant faithfulness to the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and signed their oaths.

On the same day, in the Open Altar, a public examination was made of the orthodox faith of the candidates. Representatives of the Armenian Church from the United States, Iraq and Georgia, as well as scribes, deacons, priests, bishops, as well as laymen representing different classes of society, approached His Holiness and publicaly bore witness on behalf of the candidates.

The Divine Liturgy began with the solemn procession, which led His Holiness Karekin II to the St. Trdat Open Altar, where the sacred service began. Assisting His Holiness were His Eminence Archbishop Michael Ajapahyan, Primate of the Diocese of Shirak; His Grace Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh. His Eminence Archbishop Haykazoon Najaryan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, Pontifical Delegate for India and the Far East testified for the spiritual and religious training and virtues of the candidates.

Under the singing of the hymn “divine and celestial grace” the Archmindrates faced the faithful and raised their hands as a sign of rejection of all that is worldly.

Afterwards, the service of consecration was offered, during which His Grace Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan, Grand Sacristan of the Mother See brought the Holy Chrism. His Holiness called the Archmindrates Oshakan, Theodoros, Mesrop, Koryun and Kirakos to the rank of bishop, and consecrated the candidates’ foreheads and the thumbs of their right hand with Holy Chrism, following which the symbols of episcopacy- the Episcopal staff and ring, were presented to the newly consecrated bishops.

The Catholicos of All Armenians addressed his Pontificial message to the newly consecrated bishops and the pious faithful, present on this joyful occasion: "Today, the prayer is again on our lips for our homeland and people facing serious challenges due to the military crimes of Azerbaijan and the depopulation of Artsakh. With the benevolent will and mercy of the Almighty Lord, we performed episcopal ordination and consecration in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

... At the request and prayer of all of us, our Bishops received graces to be the spiritual overseer of the faithful, the preserver and transmitter of the orthodox doctrine and sacred tradition of our Holy Church, zealous for the strengthening of the piety and faith of our people. In his service, the Bishop is called to be like Christ and to take upon himself the sweet yoke of the Lord, to be an example to the believers with his religious life and deeds. "Be like me, as I am like Christ," St. Paul the Apostle commands. The vocation and aspiration to be like the Lord is a source of strength for the Church's servants, to be an eternally courageous shepherd, to lead the believers to salvation in Christ. The Apostle urges service with this kind of commitment, saying: "Feed the flock of God that has been entrusted to you" (1 Pet. 5:2).

The Patriarch of All Armenians noted that strengthened by this awareness, throughout history, under the courageous leadership of Bishops in the Homeland and in various communities of the Diaspora, the spiritual life of Armenians has been strengthened, culture and education have developed, and national identity has been preserved intact. His Holiness Karekin II, confirmed that even today, the Bishops of the Armenian Church, with their responsibility towards the flock entrusted to it, makes tireless efforts so that the Armenian people remain faithful to the holy faith of our fathers and anchor their lives on Christian values.

"Currently, when our nation is facing serious problems as a result of the depopulation of Artsakh, our Church, our Holy Fathers, spiritual servants are facing a serious responsibility to zealously bring their important contribution to the work of providing humanitarian aid to those forcibly displaced from Artsakh, to comfort our people who are in pain and suffering, to our brothers and sisters," stated the Armenian Patriarch, presenting the consecrated bishops and referring to the years of service to the church and nation.

Then, addressing the newly consecrated Bishops, the Armenian Patriarch wished them to be strengthened by the abundant graces of the Holy Spirit, to be ready to take up their cross and follow our Lord, following the example of the blessed Holy Fathers.

"Our admonition and message is that you keep your covenant firmly, serve and act according to the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, so that with your service, the love of Christ will be strengthened in the lives of Armenians, and our people will be one-hearted and united. Like our ancestors, be the watchful guardian of our spiritual and national values and sanctities, lead our people with godly steps, with the vision of creating a bright and safe future for the motherland. In this difficult period for the Armenians, when our people and the state are going through difficult trials, continue your good efforts to encourage and strengthen the children of our people, to direct the nation's abilities and opportunities to overcome the problems of the motherland, to comfort and by all means support our brothers and sisters from the exiled Artsakh. Our faith in Christ and patriotism should be demonstrated in such commitments and servitude," His Holiness emphasized, wishing that the service of the newly consecrated Bishops would be decorated with good achievements, for the glory of God, for the love of the nation and our Holy Church.

After the Pontifical message, all the clergy ascended to the Holy Altar to receive “The Kiss of Peace” from the newly ordained Bishops Oshakan, Theodoros, Mesrop, Koryun and Kirakos. Following the conclusion of Divine Liturgy, the faithful approached the bema, and congratulated them on the occasion of their consecration.

The following day, the newly ordained bishops will each celebrate Divine Liturgy.

His Grace Bishop Oshakan Gyulgyulyan- St. Gayane Moanstery. Divine Liturgy starts at 9:00a.m.

His Grace Bishop Theodoros Zakaryan- Holy Archangels Church of the Mother See. Divine Liturgy starts at 10:30 a.m.

His Grace Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan- St. Hripsime Monastery. Divine Liturgy starts at 10:00 a.m.

His Grace Bishop Koryun Baghdasaryan- St. John the Baptist and St. Vardan Chapel-baptistery of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Divine Liturgy starts at 10:30 a.m.

His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan- St. Shoghakat Monastery. Divine Liturgy starts at 10:00 a.m.