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Feast of Sts. Ghevontiants in Fresno – Divine Liturgy and Granting of the Staff

By February 25, 2022June 5th, 2024No Comments

On Tuesday, February 22, 2022, on the occasion of the Feast of Sts. Ghevontiants, H.G. Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Prelate, celebrated Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Mother Church in Fresno. The Western Prelacy clergy participated during the service. The parishioners attending the Liturgy were filled with the message of victory through the solemn Feast of Sts. Ghevontiants and Vartanants.

The Feast of St. Ghevontiants was a unique & memorable occasion in the life of the Armenians of Fresno, especially when, at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, under the direction of His Holiness Aram I., Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, the Prelate granted the Vartabed staff to Very Rev. Fr. Ashod Khatchadourian, Pastor of Holy Trinity Mother Church of Fresno. The ordination was assisted by Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian. Very Rev. Fr. Smpad Saboundjian and Very Rev. Fr. Zareh Sarkissian also assisted during the ceremony, while the clergy participated by singing of the hymns, led by Rev. Fr. Karekin Bedourian.

The granting of the staff not only filled Father Ashod with glee and jubilation, also the clergy and faithful in attendance lived moments of enthusiasm.

After addressing the significance of Sts. Ghevontiants, the Prelate invited the clergy to exceed themselves in their ministry, to demonstrate the spiritual and national services to be rendered to the Church and the people with the highest awareness of will and diligence. On behalf of the Religious and Executive Councils, Bishop Donoyan congratulated H.H. Aram I., Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, the Cilician brotherhood, and in particular Very Rev. Fr. Ashod Khatchadourian, and expressed hope that for the enlighten of the Armenian Church and the betterment of the Western Prelacy, Hayr Ashod will continue to bring his at most service to the Armenian faithful of Fresno.

In order to receive the rank of Vartabed, Very Rev. Fr. Ashod Khatchadourian had chosen to conduct analyses on the works of H.H. Zareh I., Catholicos, and H.E. Archbishop Ardag Manougian for his doctoral dissertation.

After the ceremony, in the presence of the Prelate, the clergy, Honorary Consul of Armenia in Fresno and representative of the Prelacy Executive Council Deacon Berj Apkarian, Board of Trustees, Delegates, Ladies Auxiliary, representatives of community organizations, a special reception was held at the newly renovated hall of the church in honor of Hayr Ashod.

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