Armenian Apostolic Holy Church Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On 24 May, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, during the Divine and Immortal Liturgy, an episcopal ordination and anointing took place. By the hand of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the episcopal dignity was conferred upon the Locum Tenens of the Gegharkunik Diocese, the Reverend Archimandrite Fr. Isahak Poghosyan; the Locum Tenens of the Masyatsotn Diocese, the Reverend Archimandrite Fr. Ruben Zargaryan; the Sacristan of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Reverend Archimandrite Fr. Anania Tsaturyan; and the Director of the Preaching Centre of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Most Reverend Protoarchimandrite Fr. Zakaria Baghumyan.

On the occasion of these sacred celebrations, hierarchs of the Armenian Church, members of the Supreme Spiritual Council, benefactors of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, public figures, and pilgrims from various dioceses of Armenia arrived at Holy Etchmiadzin.

On the preceding evening, in the Cathedral, before the Holy Altar of the Descent of the Only-Begotten, the rite of the taking of vows was performed. The candidates for the episcopate—the archimandrites—kneeling, reaffirmed their vow of fidelity to the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and the Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians, and in the presence of the clergy signed their solemn declarations.

The Divine Liturgy began with a solemn Patriarchal procession, during which the Catholicos of All Armenians was led beneath a canopy into the Cathedral of the Descent of the Only-Begotten.

Before the Sacred Mystery, at the altar of Saint Stephen the Archdeacon, a rite of examination of the orthodoxy of the candidates’ confession of faith was performed for those to be ordained bishops. The worthiness of the archimandrites was attested before the Catholicos of All Armenians by representatives of the Armenian Church—readers, subdeacons, deacons, priests, and bishops—as well as by lay faithful, after which the Divine Liturgy continued at the Main Altar of the Cathedral.

The concelebrants of His Holiness were the Director of the Administrative and Economic Department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Grace Bishop Mushegh Babayan, and the Primate of the Gugark Diocese, His Grace Bishop Hovhannes Hakobyan. The sponsor and instructor of the candidates was the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Damascus, His Grace Bishop Arshak Nalbandyan.

During the sacred rite of the Liturgy, under the chanting of the hymn “Divine and Heavenly Grace,” the archimandrites, kneeling and raising their hands, renewed their vow to dedicate themselves wholly to the service of the Holy Apostolic Church, faithfully following the commandments of the Lord and the sacred canons of the Church.

Thereafter, the Primate of the Artik Diocese, His Grace Bishop Narek Avagyan, in solemn procession, brought the Holy Myron to the Holy Altar. With it, His Holiness Karekin II, calling the archimandrites Isahak, Ruben, Anania, and Zakaria to the episcopate, anointed their foreheads and the thumbs of their right hands. Upon completion of the ceremony, the newly consecrated bishops were presented with the insignia of episcopal authority—the episcopal staff and the ring.

On this memorable day, the Catholicos of All Armenians addressed a patriarchal message to the newly consecrated bishops and the faithful, giving thanks and glory to God that the sacred rite of episcopal ordination and anointing was celebrated on the life-giving Feast of Pentecost, when the Church and the faithful once again become partakers of the mystery of the outpouring of the radiant gifts of the Holy Spirit, through which the victorious mission of the Church of Christ was inaugurated.

“Beloved, today our joy is doubly great, for four devoted, learned, and diligent servants of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin have, through the outpouring of heavenly grace, been deemed worthy of episcopal ordination and anointing.

Throughout the centuries, through the sacred mystery of ordination, worthy laborers have been appointed in the Armenian Church to serve in the vineyard of the Lord, so that by the light of Holy Scripture they may enlighten the faithful flock entrusted to them and lead them to the salvation granted by Christ,” said His Holiness, adding that bishops are bearers and transmitters of apostolic succession and, by divinely granted authority, guardians of the purity of the faith, keepers of ecclesiastical order, caretakers of souls, and defenders of the rights of the Church and the faithful.

Reflecting on the historical invasions against our country, as well as the years of genocide and the Stalinist dictatorship—periods marked by repression and persecution of the clergy—His Holiness noted that, enduring many hardships, the clergy remained steadfast in their faith and love for Christ and, trusting in God, overcame all trials.

“With sorrow we note that even today, servants of the Armenian Church in Armenia are subjected to persecution and imprisonment on unfounded charges by the authorities,” emphasized the Armenian Patriarch.

His Holiness gave thanks to God that the clergy in Armenia and the Diaspora remain unshaken in spirit and faithful to Holy Etchmiadzin, and that, remaining true to their vow and calling, they continue the God-given mission, embodying the ideal of spiritual renewal, strengthening of statehood, and the building and prosperity of the Homeland.

Then the Catholicos of All Armenians, presenting the newly elevated bishops and referring to their years of devoted service to the Church and love for the nation, bestowed upon them his blessing and paternal good wishes.

“The episcopal calling, as a high rank in the ecclesiastical hierarchy, entails even greater responsibility and dedication in the Church of Christ. The episcopate itself is a cross of service, which the servant of the Lord assumes kneeling before the Holy Altar, with a vow to devote his entire life to selfless ministry,” His Holiness noted.

“In these difficult times, continue to strengthen the children of our people in love for God and devotion to the Homeland. Be fearless guardians of our spiritual and national values and sanctities, as well as defenders of the just rights of our country, our people, and the Holy Church. Lead the faithful entrusted to your care along paths pleasing to God, strengthening in their hearts faith, unyielding will, and courage—so that our country may overcome the present dangers and trials and build a prosperous and bright future for our Homeland. Through your exalted ministry, spread everywhere the God-given love, integrity, kindness, and justice,” His Holiness exhorted, praying that the Lord by His Holy Right Hand may always strengthen the newly ordained and grant them new successes—for the glory of God, for the benefit of the nation, and for the building and flourishing of the Holy Apostolic Church.

Thereafter, during the rite of greeting, the clergy ascended to the Holy Altar and, led by the Catholicos of All Armenians, congratulated the newly consecrated bishops, kissing their right hand sealed with holy myron.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the faithful also congratulated the newly ordained hierarchs on their elevation to the episcopate.

In the coming days, the newly consecrated bishops will celebrate vow Liturgies in the Mother Cathedral.