Armenian Apostolic Holy Church Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On February 24, the funeral ceremony of Archbishop Datev Sarkissian, one of the senior hierarchs of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, was held at the monastic cemetery of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

In the morning, at the Monastery of Saint Gayane, with the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the Divine and Immortal Liturgy was celebrated. The celebrant was His Eminence Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, a hierarch of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia.

During the sacred service, the coffin containing the late Archbishop Datev Sarkissian's body was placed before the Holy Altar, after which the Rite of Final Anointing was performed. The forehead and right hand of Archbishop Datev were anointed with Holy Chrism. The clergy then ascended to the Holy Altar and offered their final farewell to the departed archbishop.

In his funeral oration, Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian reflected on the life and ministry of the late hierarch.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the burial rite was performed at the monastic cemetery of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.