Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: cathcil@cathcil.org
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
THE EXTREME UNCTION AND BURIAL
OF ARCHBISHOP GHEVONT CHEBEYAN
Headed by His Holiness Aram I, the Catholicosate of Cilicia, the members of
its Brotherhood, the representatives of its structures and its believers bid
farewell on March 10 to the senior member of the Cilician Pact and loyal
member of the Cilician Brotherhood Archbishop Ghevont Chebeyan.
The Holy Mass started in the morning with the participation of the
Brotherhood members and the attendance of believers as a preparation for the
extreme unction of the late Archbishop. His Holiness Aram I presided over
the Holy Mass and carried out the extreme unction.
Bishop Dirayr Panossian conducted the Holy Mass during which the tomb of the
late Archbishop was carried by the members of the Brotherhood to the Holy
altar, where His Holiness conducted the extreme unction.
During the hymns of farewell the Archbishop’s tomb was turned West, East and
South respectively, after which His Holiness ordained his forehead and right
hand with Holy Chrism for the last time. Members of the Brotherhood and
spirituals then came up to the altar and kissed the late Archbishop’s
forehead and right head.
His Holiness Aram I highlighted Archbisop Ghevont’s dedicated service of
more than seven decades. Considering the Archbishop’s love for his spiritual
career to be “contagious” for the new generation, His Holiness justly
praised the Archbishop’s care for the church’s ritual life.
“Archbishop Ghevont was not only himself zealous towards the rites and
rituals of the Armenian Church, but he demanded zealousness from those
surrounding him, both during his service in the Dioceses and inside the
Catholicosate. The Archbishop was a spiritual man with the literal meaning
of the word, aware of his calling and the mission of the Catholicosate of
Cilicia,” His Holiness said.
His Holiness then spoke about the Archbishop’s brave position of a loyal
servant of the Catholicosate of Cilicia and defender of its principles even
during the most difficult and critical times. “Archbishop Ghevont became and
remained the kind of member of our brotherhood who, with his persistent
brave stand, was able to remain loyal to the Catholicosate of Cilicia when
many others deserted our Holy See and betrayed their brotherhood,” His
Holiness said.
After the Pontifical funeral oration believers approached the tomb of the
Archbishop to kiss his right hand for the last time and bid him farewell.
The clergy then carried the tomb on their shoulders to the Zarehian
Tomb-Monument where the tomb service was held by His Holiness Aram I.
Brotherhood members then descended the tomb into its last rest place, the
Cilician Pact tomb. Bishop Dirayr then blessed the land and the grave.
Following the service, believers expressed their condolences to His Holiness
Aram I and the members of the Brotherhood in the hall of Veharan.
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View photos here:
res21.htm
ictures22.htm
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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
history and mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer
to the web page of the Catholicosate, The
Cilician Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is
located in Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress