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PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.armenianchurch-ed.net
October 22, 2012
_______________________________________________
Altar Servers Ordained in Providence, RI
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), visited Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence,
RI, last weekend, where he ordained altar servers and presided over the
church's name day celebration.
On Saturday, October 13, the Feast of the Holy Translators, Archbishop
Barsamian presided over a vespers service during which 10 young men were
ordained to the rank of acolyte. The 10-Timothy Aznavourian, Garen
Megrdichian, Adam Parnagian, Antranig Daoud, Michael Papazian, Luke
Alexander, David Alexander, Aren Daoud, Zachary Semerjian, and Zander
Semerjian-have spent the past year preparing for their new responsibilities
with the Rev. Fr. Shnork Souin, parish pastor.
"Seeing the look of awe and humility in the faces of these 10 young men
being ordained by the Primate on Saturday night, I was struck with the
realization that this was no graduation from a rigorous one-year acolyte
training program but a beginning of a greater service to and for the
church," Fr. Souin said. "These young men have worked so hard and served on
the altar with such enthusiasm that I feel that they are an inspiration for
the entire congregation and a breath of fresh air in my own ministry."
Also taking part in the service on Saturday were the Very Rev. Fr. Aren
Jebejian, pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Chicago, Ill., and
the Rev. Fr. Krikor Sabounjian, pastor of Holy Translators Church of
Framingham, Mass.
Following the service, the parents of the newly ordained parishioners
sponsored a reception in the church hall. The community welcomed the
Primate, congratulated the young men, and encouraged them to continue their
service to the Armenian Church. David Alexander and the brothers Zachary and
Zander Semerjian sang songs and played the piano during the reception.
On Sunday, October 14, Archbishop Barsamian celebrated the Divine Liturgy
and elevated Samuel DeBlois, Timothy Aznavourian, and Haroutiun Ohanesian to
the sub-diaconate.
In his sermon, Archbishop Barsamian spoke about St. Sahag and St. Mesrob-the
patron saints of the Providence church-who created the Armenian alphabet in
the fifth century. The Primate reminded parishioners that "the love of Jesus
Christ which inspired and drove the Holy Translators is something available
to each and every one of us."
"With such love, the various gifts that each of us possesses will become
greater," Archbishop Barsamian said. "Like the Translators, we will see our
own ministry made more meaningful, more powerful, because it is inspired by
our Lord."
A requiem service was held for Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, the 96th
Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, and the long-serving former Primate of the
Eastern Diocese, who passed away on October 12.
Later in the afternoon, some 240 people gathered in the church hall for the
annual name day banquet. The community honored its 2012 "Parishioners of the
Year"-George Chakoian, Jean Farmanian Ricci, and Marion Der Vartanian-and
recognized outgoing parish council members and delegates. Parishioners also
conveyed words of congratulations to the newly ordained acolytes and
sub-deacons.
A musical program included performances by sub-deacons Timothy Aznavourian,
who sang and played classical guitar, and Davit Gevorkyan, who played duduk,
with his mother, Ruzan Gevorkyan, accompanying on the piano.
###
Photos attached.
Photo 1: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian ordains acolytes.
Photo 2: Three men are elevated to the sub-diaconate.
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.armenianchurch-ed.net
October 22, 2012
_______________________________________________
Altar Servers Ordained in Providence, RI
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), visited Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence,
RI, last weekend, where he ordained altar servers and presided over the
church's name day celebration.
On Saturday, October 13, the Feast of the Holy Translators, Archbishop
Barsamian presided over a vespers service during which 10 young men were
ordained to the rank of acolyte. The 10-Timothy Aznavourian, Garen
Megrdichian, Adam Parnagian, Antranig Daoud, Michael Papazian, Luke
Alexander, David Alexander, Aren Daoud, Zachary Semerjian, and Zander
Semerjian-have spent the past year preparing for their new responsibilities
with the Rev. Fr. Shnork Souin, parish pastor.
"Seeing the look of awe and humility in the faces of these 10 young men
being ordained by the Primate on Saturday night, I was struck with the
realization that this was no graduation from a rigorous one-year acolyte
training program but a beginning of a greater service to and for the
church," Fr. Souin said. "These young men have worked so hard and served on
the altar with such enthusiasm that I feel that they are an inspiration for
the entire congregation and a breath of fresh air in my own ministry."
Also taking part in the service on Saturday were the Very Rev. Fr. Aren
Jebejian, pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Chicago, Ill., and
the Rev. Fr. Krikor Sabounjian, pastor of Holy Translators Church of
Framingham, Mass.
Following the service, the parents of the newly ordained parishioners
sponsored a reception in the church hall. The community welcomed the
Primate, congratulated the young men, and encouraged them to continue their
service to the Armenian Church. David Alexander and the brothers Zachary and
Zander Semerjian sang songs and played the piano during the reception.
On Sunday, October 14, Archbishop Barsamian celebrated the Divine Liturgy
and elevated Samuel DeBlois, Timothy Aznavourian, and Haroutiun Ohanesian to
the sub-diaconate.
In his sermon, Archbishop Barsamian spoke about St. Sahag and St. Mesrob-the
patron saints of the Providence church-who created the Armenian alphabet in
the fifth century. The Primate reminded parishioners that "the love of Jesus
Christ which inspired and drove the Holy Translators is something available
to each and every one of us."
"With such love, the various gifts that each of us possesses will become
greater," Archbishop Barsamian said. "Like the Translators, we will see our
own ministry made more meaningful, more powerful, because it is inspired by
our Lord."
A requiem service was held for Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, the 96th
Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, and the long-serving former Primate of the
Eastern Diocese, who passed away on October 12.
Later in the afternoon, some 240 people gathered in the church hall for the
annual name day banquet. The community honored its 2012 "Parishioners of the
Year"-George Chakoian, Jean Farmanian Ricci, and Marion Der Vartanian-and
recognized outgoing parish council members and delegates. Parishioners also
conveyed words of congratulations to the newly ordained acolytes and
sub-deacons.
A musical program included performances by sub-deacons Timothy Aznavourian,
who sang and played classical guitar, and Davit Gevorkyan, who played duduk,
with his mother, Ruzan Gevorkyan, accompanying on the piano.
###
Photos attached.
Photo 1: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian ordains acolytes.
Photo 2: Three men are elevated to the sub-diaconate.