Armenian Apostolic Holy Church Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On May 3, the Feast of the Apparition of the Holy Cross, with the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, a priestly ordination was performed during the Divine Liturgy at the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin.

The Liturgy was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisian, Director of the Department of External Relations and Protocol of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, through whose episcopal ministry seven deacons serving in various diocesan and administrative institutions of the Mother See were ordained and anointed with Holy Chrism.

During the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Nathan, calling the candidates to the priesthood, anointed their foreheads and hands with Holy Chrism and granted them new spiritual names. The Honorable Deacon Artak Antonyan was named Fr. Anania, Deacon Karo Gharibyan — Fr. Mkrtich, Deacon Harutyun Zakaryan — Fr. Vahan, Deacon Gevorg Karapetyan — Fr. Tovmas, Deacon Grisha Harutyunyan — Fr. Abraham, Deacon Aramayis Azizyan — Fr. Nerses, and Deacon Arsen Avagyan — Fr. Mushegh.

Following this, the newly ordained priests imparted their first blessing to the faithful.

In his sermon, the Archbishop noted that the day is a double feast for the Armenian Church: the Feast of the Apparition of the Holy Cross and the day on which the Church family was enriched with seven new priests. Reflecting on the meaning of the feast, he emphasized that the Cross, once an instrument of death and suffering, through Christ became the Tree of Life—a source of salvation, protection, and refuge for the faithful.

Then, addressing the newly ordained priests, Archbishop Natan said:

“Dear Fathers, today through vow and prayer you have been born for a new life, with new names, as new people. From this day forward, your lives must belong entirely to our Lord Jesus Christ. Following the example of the Lord, bring joy and righteousness to people, even as you pass through trials and suffering. The calling of a priest is self-sacrifice for the salvation of the flock.

…We, the clergy, as soldiers of Christ, must stand in the front ranks in defense of the Armenian Church—with word, deed, prayer, selfless service, and, if necessary, even through the sacrifice of ourselves. Nothing can separate us, the clergy of the Armenian Church, from our mission.”

At the conclusion, the Archbishop offered a prayer to God, wishing the newly ordained priests strength, steadfastness, and unwavering faithfulness to their vows.

During the Greeting, led by the Catholicos of All Armenians, the brotherhood of the Mother See and the clergy present approached the Holy Altar and congratulated the newly ordained priests, kissing their foreheads and hands anointed with Holy Chrism.

The newly ordained priests will spend forty days in preparation and prayerful retreat at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, after which they will be called to serve in various structures and dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church.