ECHMIADZIN — On October 8, Episcopal ordinations and consecrations were held in the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin. During the celebration of Divine Liturgy in the St. Trdat Open Altar, Rev. Archimandrite Oshakan Gyulgyulyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Iraq; Proto Archimandrite Theodoros Zakaryan, Chairman of the Assembly of Directors of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem; Rev. Archimandrite Mesrop Parsamyan, Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America; Rev. Archimandrite Koryun Baghdasaryan, Dean of the manor of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and Rev. Archimandrite Kirakos Davtyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Georgia were consecrated, ordained and elevated in rank, by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
Diocesan Primates of the Armenian Church, representatives from the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, benefactors of the Mother See, pilgrims from Armenia, the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, Iraq and Armenian Diocese of Syria arrived in Holy Echmiadzin on the occasion of the sacred ceremonies.
On the previous day, in the morning, the service of candidature was held in the St. Trdat Open Altar, during which the bishops reaffirmed their covenant faithfulness to the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, and signed their oaths.
On the same day, in the Open Altar, a public examination was made of the orthodox faith of the candidates. Representatives of the Armenian Church from the United States, Iraq and Georgia, as well as scribes, deacons, priests, bishops, as well as laymen representing different classes of society, approached His Holiness and publicly bore witness on behalf of the candidates.
The Divine Liturgy began with the solemn procession, which led Catholicos Karekin II to the St. Trdat Open Altar, where the sacred service began. Assisting him were Archbishop Michael Ajapahyan, Primate of the Diocese of Shirak and Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh. Archbishop Haykazoon Najaryan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, Pontifical Delegate for India and the Far East testified for the spiritual and religious training and virtues of the candidates.
Under the singing of the hymn “divine and celestial grace” the Archmindrates faced the faithful and raised their hands as a sign of rejection of all that is worldly.
