On Tuesday, February 22, at the Central Surp Asdvadzadzin (Virgin Mary) Church of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey, the Feast of Saint Ghevonyants (Feast of the Clergy), which is in the calendar of the Armenian Apostolic Churches, was celebrated in the presidency of the Patriarch Sahak II. with the participation of the clergy of the patriarchate, with morning prayers and holy offerings.
The head of the Spiritual Council, Senior Father Zaven Bıçakçıyan, presented the Holy offering mass. Father Natan Arabian and Father Nerses Ayvazyan were their deputies. Deacons, senior readers and readers of the Church served the sacrament. The chants were sung by the priests under the leadership of the Deputy Patriarch, Senior Father Krikor Damadyan. Archbishop Aram Ateşyan gave the sermon of the day in Armenian.
Archbishop Atesyan started his sermon by commemorating the words of St. Ghevont Yerets. Afterwards, he briefly emphasized the importance of St. Ghevont for the history of the Armenian church. He stated that thanks to him, these days could be reached, but that today’s conditions are not only responsible for the lack of believers in the churches, the clergy also have a responsibility in this regard, and that they must work for Christianity at the cost of their lives by walking in the path of Saint Ghevont. After the Holy Offering Ceremony, under the leadership of Patriarch Sahak II, the clergy came to the middle of the Church and the “Hokehankisd” (Ayin-i Ruhani) prayers were read for all the clergy who were martyred for Christianity and served the Patriarchate of the Armenians of Turkey, and then the ceremony ended with the blessing of His Beatitude the Patriarch.
After the ceremony, His Beatitude the Patriarch congratulated the clergy who attended the ceremony and they took a photo together.
