PRESS RELEASE
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
Website: 
October 3, 2006

Nine New Priests Ordained in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

Father Varag, Father Ashot, Father Toros, Father Shirak, Father
Movses, Father Hakob, Father Nshan, Father Arsen and Father Psak are
the names of the newest priests of the Armenian Church.

Nine in number, the young men, all graduates of the Gevorkian
Theological Seminary or the Accelerated Academic Course for the
Priesthood, were ordained to the holy order of priesthood last
Sunday, October 1, on the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varag in the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.  The celebrant of the Divine Liturgy
and ordaining bishop was His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Bozabalian,
one of the senior members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin.

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, presided during the liturgy and ordination service.

In his message addressed to the newly ordained priests, Archbishop
Bozabalian stated in part, "Dear brothers-in-Christ, we celebrated
the consecration of your priesthood. We gave each of you a new name,
for each of you has become a new man. And as a new man inspired by
the Holy Spirit, sustained with the Holy Spirit, and endowed with
divine gifts, you will have new duties and responsibilities in the
life of our nation. May God help you conquer all difficulties you
shall face.  May the Holy Spirit deliver his gifts in your everyday
pastoral life and support you. Wherever you serve, you must never
forget the mercy of God nor the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin where
you were nurtured and ordained as priests."

The nine former deacons, Hovhannes Yaparian, Sahak Ghazarian, Khosrov
Yesayan, Samvel Khanoyan, Armen Ashurian, Hovhannes Grigorian,
Andre Sargsian, Karekin Hambardzumian and Gevork Mkrtchian will be
in seclusion for the traditional 40 day period on the grounds of the
Mother See, following which they will be appointed by His Holiness
to begin their spiritual service within the various dioceses.

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