The feast of St. Stephen the protodeacon holds a special place in the Armenian Church Calendar: on this occasion, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I presides over the Divine Liturgy dedicated to the feast and delivers the message of the feast during a celebration prepared by the Seminarians, in the Main Hall of the Catholicosate.

Consequently, on Sunday, December 26^th, 2021, Archbishop Gomidas Ohanian celebrated the Liturgy and offered the sermon addressing the faithful, as well as the deacons serving on the altar. After Liturgy, the procession headed to the main hall of the Catholicosate. The celebration included songs and hymns dedicated to the Protodeacon, an opening remark delivered by Deacon Shaunt Kadehjian in which he renewed their vows as seminary deacons to continue serving the people, and lastly, the Catholicos delivered his pontifical message.

His Holiness stated that St. Stephen lived and was martyred serving Jesus Christ motivated by selfless love. He underlined that the church fulfills itself by becoming a witness to the word and deeds of God and exhorted the faithful to follow the example of the saint. Finally, he commended the deacons’ dedication to service, and called upon them to take the church to the people in parallel to bringing the people to the church, just as Christ Himself went to the people. His Holiness concluded with a prayer to God, that He may fill our lives with the spirit and faith of St. Stephen.