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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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October 10, 2006

Three New "Vardapets" in Holy Etchmiadzin

On September 15, three young priests successfully defended their doctoral
theses in the Gevorkian Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin.  The examination committee was comprised of His Eminence
Archbishop Nerses Bozabalian, Chairman; His Eminence Archbishop Navasard
Kjoyan, Vicar of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese; and His Grace Bishop
Arshak Khatchatrian, Chancellor of the Mother See. 

Rev. Fr. Barsegh Pilavchian defended his thesis entitled "The Spiritual and
Cultural Life of the Hungarian-Armenian Community".  Rev. Fr. Daniel
Tumanian defended his thesis entitled "The Third Chapter of the Book of
Genesis in Various Commentaries and Armenian Apocryphal Literature".  Rev.
Fr. Vasken Nanian defended his thesis entitled "The Presentation of the Lord
to the Temple (Candlemas) and its Introduction into the Ritual Structure and
Calendar of the Armenian Church".  All three priests are members of the
Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin.

The following day, on September 16, during the celebration of Divine
Liturgy, His Eminence Archbishop Navasard Kjoyan elevated the three monks
and bestowed them with the rank of "Vardapet" (archimandrite).  According to
tradition, the service was offered in the Church of St. Mesrop Mashtots in
Oshakan.