On Sunday, September 24, His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, celebrated the Divine Liturgy and consecrated Antranig Karageozian and Garabed Minassian deacons at Holy Cross Church in Troy, New York. In his sermon, the Prelate said that service constitutes the essence of the hierarchies of the church, which comes to us from the submission and service of our Lord, Jesus Christ. He recalled that even Armenian Catholicoi sign their encyclicals identifying themselves as “servants of Christ.”
Following the Divine Liturgy, a prayer took place for the 32nd anniversary of the independence of Armenia. His Eminence said that, in the sad circumstances of this date, we had to mark it with unity among ourselves because only with statehood we can survive as a nation and bring our contribution to humanity.
The ceremonies were followed by the celebration of the 65th anniversary of the church. Newly consecrated deacons Antranig and Garabed delivered remarks, expressing gratitude to the Prelate and their parents for their Christian upbringing. Rev. Fr. Vahan Kouyoumjian, in turn, expressed his joy over the revitalization of the spiritual, cultural, and social life of the community thanks to the input of every community member. His Eminence communicated the congratulations of the Religious and Lay Councils of the Eastern Prelacy for the Church’s anniversary, which he described as the fruit of the dedicated and planned labor of every community member.
