Ordination of Priest in the Artsakh Diocese

Today, on November 13, with the blessing of the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, and by the hand of the Primate of the Artsakh Diocese, His Grace Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, the ordination to the priesthood was performed for the first time in the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Stepanakert.

During the liturgy, Bishop Vrtanes called the newly-consecrated to the priesthood, anointing his forehead and hands with Holy Chrism, giving him a new spiritual name. Deacon Gor Gyurjyan will continue his holy mission with the name Father Vachagan Gyurjyan in honor of the King of Artsakh Vachagan the Pious.

In his speech, the Primate of the Diocese congratulated and expressed gratitude to the Catholicos of All Armenians, then, congratulating the newly anointed Father and all believers, he noted in particular in his sermon:

“Today, with the invisible presence of God, with your testimony and our intercession, the former man ascended these steps and here, according to the sacred rules, prayers and hymns of the holy Fathers, the grace of the Holy Spirit descended on the entire essence of the devotee, and the essence of man changed, the man changed, the former deacon Gor Gyurjyan has now become a new person - Reverend Father Vachagan Gyurjyan.

The newly anointed Father, sharing his impressions, said: “To be honored with the priesthood is both a great joy and a great responsibility to bear the yoke of Christ and become a servant of Christ before people. Today, in the eyes of the people, we have made a promise to serve Christ, to worship His Body and Blood. There is no better sacrament than this. Today, during the ordination, I was given the name Vachagan in honor of the famous Vachagan the Pious, who was the king of Artsakh and under whom Artsakh reached the peak of its power. From now on, this character will accompany me for the rest of my life, and I will announce to the soldiers that they also follow the path of the Pious Vachagan.