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:
Watch the recorded video here:
tepriests.wmv
ORDINATION OF CELIBATE PRIESTS IN ANTELIAS
Three graduates of the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s Seminary joined the ranks
of Cilician Brotherhood on May 14 in Antelias, as they were ordained before
God and believers to serve the Armenian Church as celibate priests.
Formed and educated in the Seminary for the last nine years, former students
Deacon Razmig Yemishian, Deacon Ourardou Sarkissian and Deacon Trasdamad
Donoyan took up their priest uniforms in the St. Gregory the Illuminator
Cathedral, with the conscious aim of serving the Armenian Church and nation
through the Holy See of Cilicia.
During a special service held in the Cathedral on the evening of May 13, the
candidates publicly pledged loyalty to the Armenian Church, its rituals,
rites, traditions and laws and condemned all those throughout history who
have tried to prosecute God’s Church or confuse its believers with other
teachings. They knelt down on their knees and read their oath to join the
ranks of the Cilician Brotherhood.
His Holiness Aram I presided over the ordination service on Sunday.
Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian, the Catholicosal Vicar for the Diocese of
Cyprus, celebrated the Holy Mass, ordained the priests and delivered the
sermon.
During the service, the candidates were invited to the altar, where they
abandoned the world of man and took on the heavy but sweet responsibility of
being Christ’s servants.
Archbishop Hergelian then blessed the left and right hands of each candidate
with Holy Chrism. He gave the candidates new names, ordaining them as the
servants of God. Deacon Razmig became Rev. Fr. Sahag, Deacon Ourardou was
ordained as Rev. Fr. Mesrob and Deacon Trasdamad took on the name of Rev.
Fr. Torkom.
The Archbishop highlighted the mission of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in
the sermon he delivered on this occasion, stressing that three new servants
pledge their loyalty and dedication to it.
The members of the Cilician Brotherhood then came up to the altar, to
congratulate the three new priests for their entry into the service of God
and in the ranks of the Brotherhood.
Following their ordination, the hands of the new priests were washed by
their godfathers, Yervant Khanamirian,Varoujan Sarkissian and Hratch
Tchilingirian. The godfathers expressed their happiness for the young
newcomers into the Cilician Brotherhood.
The uniforms of the priests were blessed after the service. The priests then
knelt down in the Veharan in front of the Pontiff to receive his blessings.
The three new celibate priests will be fasting and praying in the St.
Asdvadzadzine Monastery in Bikfaya in order to prepare for their journey in
the footsteps of God.
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View photos here:
es66.htm
ctures67.htm
s/Pictures68.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.