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: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
ORDINATION OF ACOLYTES AND SUB-DEACONS IN ANTELIAS
Junior students from the Seminary of the Catholicosate of Cilicia started
on their journey in the service of the Armenian Church when they were
ordained as acolytes and sub-deacons during special services held in
Antelias on June 2 and 3, 2007.
Towards the end of the Vespers in the Mother Cathedral on Saturday, June
2, Bishop Dirayr Panossian ordained the acolytes with the first four humble
positions of the Armenian Apostolic Church. He cut small sections of their
hair in the form of a cross as a symbol to their self-dedication to the
service of the church.
V. Rev. Fr. Norayr Ashekian performed the Holy Mass on Sunday June 3,
2007. Prior to Lord’s Prayer, the ordination of the sub-deacons was
performed by Bishop Dirayr Panossian, who called on them to remain loyal to
their responsibilities. In his sermon, the Bishop outlined the
characteristic features of those destined to serve the Church and spoke
about those in the new generation who have been called on to take this path.
He congratulated His Holiness Aram I, the Seminary’s administration and the
parents of the newly ordained acolytes and sub-deacons, assuring them that
the new servants of the Armenian Church and nation will become its future
hope.
After the service the new acolytes and sub-deacons knelt before the
Pontiff in the Veharan to receive his blessings. Having blessed them with
"Bahbanitch" the Catholicos advised them to prepare themselves to greater
service through self-development. His Holiness also highly praised the
Seminary’s administration, its faculty, students and parents, who encourage
the Seminary students on their path to formation.
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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 Theological
Seminary 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.