Presided by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, four young seminarians: Vartan Asayan, Vahe Filikian, Hrag Tashjian, and Tro Guleserian, were ordained as deacons during the Sunday Divine Liturgy on, May 21st, 2023, celebrated by the Prelate of Armenian Church in Greece H.E. Arch. Kegham Katcherian.
The sponsor priest V. Rev. Fr. Avedik Der Garabedian led the candidates to the altar on their knees where the officiant priest raised his prayers to God and asked Him to endow the newly ordained with heavenly wisdom, and administered onto them the right to wear a stole on the left shoulder, read the Gospel and administer the censer during the Divine Liturgy.
Subsequently, Arch. Kegham delivered his sermon citing John 14:26 and elaborated on the promise of Jesus to send the Holy Spirit as a comforter and advocate. He then exhorted the newly ordained to serve the church as deacons, acknowledging that the ordination they received was by Jesus Christ Himself and that the stole they will be wearing symbolizes the sweet yoke of Jesus Christ. Finally, he congratulated the administration of the Seminary, the teachers, the parents of the newly ordained, as well as the faithful for this special occasion.
At the end of the liturgy, the deacons, along with the acolytes and sub deacons who were ordained a week ago, accompanied by the officiant priest, met with His Holiness Aram I to receive his blessings.
