On February 26, 2019, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church celebrated the Feast of St. Ghevond the Priest. On this occasion 230 priests serving at the Dioceses and Armenian Church institutions gathered in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
On the occasion of the Feast, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, an awards ceremony was held at the “Hrach and Syuzan Tufayan” Youth Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The festive event was attended by the spiritual servants from the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, led by the Diocesan Primate, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan.
After the Lord’s Prayer, His Grace Bishop Michael Ajapahyan, the organizer of the clergy meeting, welcomed the clergy.
Congratulating His Holiness and the entire rank of priests, His Grace Bishop Michael said that the Feast of St. Ghevond the Priest gives all of them an opportunity to be inspired by their example, to enjoy achievement and successes and keep in their hearts the breath and light of Mother See.
Afterwards, the traditional awards ceremony took place. As an appreciation for devoted and effective long years service the Primate of the Diocese of Armavir, His Grace Bishop Sion Adamyan; Primate of Diocese of Shirak, His Grace Bishop Michael Ajapahyan and Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Southern Russia, His Grace Bishop Movses Movsisyan were elevated to the rank of Archbishop by His Holiness Karekin II.
The right to wear the Pectoral Cross was granted to some priests serving in various dioceses. Accepting the request from the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, the right to wear the Pectoral Cross was granted to Rev. Father Gevorg Asatryan, Pastor of Saint Karapet church in Gandza, Ninotsminda region (Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia); Rev. Father Narek Tigranyan, assistant to the pastor of Surb Khach (Holy Cross) church in Akhalkalaki and Rev. Father Kirakos Simonyan, assistant to the pastor of the Cathedral of Saint George in Tbilisi.
At the end of awards ceremony, Catholicos of All Armenians offered his blessings and Pontifical message to clergy.
On behalf of numerous faithful and officials of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, we congratulate all the awardees, including the priests of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, wishing them a spiritual service in accordance with God’s commandments.