Press Office
On November 16, episcopal ordinations for three new bishops of the Armenian Church were conducted in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians celebrated a Pontifical Divine Liturgy and thereupon consecrated, ordained and elevated Very Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian, Primate of the Armenian Church of Brazil, Very Rev. Fr. Abgar Hovakimian, Primate of the Armenian Church Diocese of Canada and Very Rev. Fr. Vartan Navasardyan, Director of Christian Education in Mother See Holy Etchmiadzin to the rank of bishop. Click here to watch the video…
The previous evening, the three candidates kneeled before the Holy Altar of Descent in the Mother Cathedral, vowed to remain faithful to the Holy Gospel, to the canons of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church and to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and signed their oaths.
As the liturgy commenced, a public examination of the orthodox faith of the candidates took place before the Altar of St. Stephen the Protomartyr in the Mother Cathedral. The intercessor for the candidates was His Eminence Bishop Haigazoun Najarian, Primate of Australia and New Zealand. According to accepted tradition, representatives of each ecclesiastical and hierarchal rank – acolytes, deacons, priests and laymen representing different classes of society approached His Holiness and publicly bore witness on behalf of the candidates. His Holiness then confirmed the testimonials and presented each candidate with his episcopal omophorion.
The Divine Liturgy then continued before the Main Altar of the Mother Cathedral. Reciting prayers from the “Mashtots” (ritual book) of ordination, His Holiness called the candidates to the rank of bishop. The Supreme Patriarch consecrated the candidates’ foreheads and the thumbs of their right hand with Holy Chrism, following which the symbols of episcopacy – the episcopal staff and ring, were presented to the newly consecrated bishops.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a reception was hosted in the Mother See during which His Holiness Karekin II presented panagias to the newly ordained Bishops as a sign of their episcopal authority.
On November 18, according to tradition, His Grace Bishop Abgar Hovakimian, celebrated his first Episcopal “Divine Liturgy of Oath” in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, before the Holy Altar of Descent.
Rev. Archpriest Fr. Zareh Zargarian, Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Toronto and Mr. Ohan Ohanessian, the Parish Council Chairman and the Godfather congratulated His Grace Bishop Abgar Hovakimian on his ordination to the rank of Bishop and conveyed the well wishes of the members and parishioners of Holy Trinity Armenian Church to His Grace.
Primate Hovakimian will be welcomed to Holy Trinity Armenian Church on the 86th Anniversary of the church parish on Saturday, December 6, and will be celebrating the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, December 7th, 2014.
Fr. Zargarian and the parish council invite Toronto’s Armenian Community to join us celebrating Primate Hovakimian’s ordination as well as the church’s long history of serving the faithful. Let us remember the past, celebrate the present, and build the future. More Photos….
