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Antelias: Ordination of celibate priests in Antelias

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  • Antelias: Ordination of celibate priests in Antelias

    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: http://www.cathcil.org/

    PO Box 70 317
    Antelias-Lebanon

    Armenian version: http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Armenian.htm

    Watch the recorded video here:
    http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Videos/celiba 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.

    ##
    View photos here:
    http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Pictur es66.htm

    http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Pi ctures67.htm

    http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photo s/Pictures68.htm


    *****

    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, http://www.cathcil.org/ The Cilician Catholicosate, the
    administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
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