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Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  (374 10) 517 163
Fax:  (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail:  ktrij@etchmiadzin.am
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April 28, 2006

Defense of Doctoral Theses in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

Four New Vardapets in the Armenian Church

On April 21, three members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin and one
member of the Brotherhood of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople
defended their doctoral theses before the doctoral examination committee in
the Mother See.

Rev. Fr. Abgar Hovakimian, Vicar of the Diocese of Syunik, defended his
doctoral thesis entitled `St. Dionysius the Areopagite in Armenian
Bibliography’.

Rev. Fr. Mkrtich Proshian, Dean of the Vaskenian Seminary of Lake Sevan,
defended his doctoral thesis entitled `An Analysis of Feminist Sotierology’.

Rev. Fr. Hovakim Manukian, Office Director of the Department of Inter-Church
Relations, defended his doctoral thesis entitled `Ecumenism in the Twentieth
Century and the Armenian Church’.

Rev. Fr. Sahak Mashalian from the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople
defended his doctoral thesis entitled `Faith and Miracle’.

The examination committee was comprised of His Grace Bishop Yeznik Petrosian
(Chairman); His Grace Bishop Mikayel Ajapahian, Primate of the Diocese of
Shirak; and His Grace Bishop Arshak Khatchatrian, Chancellor of the Mother
See.

Following each candidate’s presentation and question and answer period, the
committee determined that all four presentations were acceptable and deemed
the priests worthy to be granted the rank of `Vardapet’ (Archimandrite).

On Saturday, April 23, in the Church of St. Mesrop Mashtots in Oshakan, His
Grace Bishop Yeznik Petrosian, bestowed the rank of Vardapet on the three
members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin.  The priests recommitted
themselves to the service of the Armenian people and Holy Church by taking
an oath near the tomb of the `Great Teacher’ St. Mesrop, whereupon they
received their doctoral staffs.

Rev. Fr. Mashalian will be granted his doctoral staff in the month of June.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress