On Wednesday, January 6, the Armenian Church celebrated the Feast of the Nativity and Epiphany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His Eminence Archbishop Anous
havan, Prelate, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Illuminator’s Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in New York and presided over the Blessing of the Water ceremony. Rafael Yessaian, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bedros and Liza Yessaian, served as Godfather.
At the request of Archbishop Anoushavan, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I bestowed on Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian the honor and
privilege of wearing the Floral Pilon (Dzaghgea pilon) on the occasion of the fifteenth anniversary of Der Mesrob’s ordination. The Prelate read the Catholicos’ encyclical (gontag
) and enrobed Der Hayr with the Dzaghgea pilon during Badarak before his sermon. The Prelate praised Der Mesrob for his many years of faithful and dedicated service to St. Illuminator’s Cathedral and the Armeniancommunity of New York.
The festive day at St. Illuminator’s concluded with a dedication by Anoushavan Srpazan of the doors to the Sanctuary, which were donated by Dr. George and Mrs. Tamara Dermksian (Mrs. Dermksian passed away on February 20, 2019).