His Holiness Karekin II Received Priests Granted the Rank of Archimandrite
19.10.2016
On October 18, Rev. Fr. Samvel Mkhitaryan, Vicar General of the Diocese of Tavoush; and Rev. Fr. Sipan Gevorkian, Spiritual Advisor of the Pan Armenian Church Youth Association of the Armenian Church; received the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet), with the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The rank was bestowed in the St. Mesrop Mashtots Church of Oshakan by His Grace Bishop Arshak Khachatryan, Chancellor of the Mother See.
Following the service, His Holiness received the newly appointed Archimandrites, accompanied by Bishop Arshak, and His Grace Bishop Hovnan Hagopyan, Grand Sacristan of the Mother See.
The Catholicos of All Armenians conveyed his blessings and gratitude to the two priests and congratulated them, and offered his personal appreciation to Bishop Arshak and Bishop Hovnan and all the members of the doctoral committee.
His Holiness noted that the doctoral degree is binding and is the evidence of the reality that the clergy who was honored to that order, really masters to the doctrine of the Church and is the zealous propagator of their steadily maintaining.
His Holiness wished that God strengthens and makes their process of life efficient.
At the conclusion, His Holiness granted them the Pectoral Cross and through the “Protector” prayer blessed the twp priests.
On 13 October, the two priests, who are members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, successfully defended their doctoral thesis. Father Samvel defended his thesis on: “Makaravank”; and Father Sipan defended his thesis on: “Artificial insemination: the application of new methods and the Armenian Apostolic Church”.
