PRELATE ORDAINS ACOLYTES, SUBDEACONS IN MICHIGAN AS ST. SARKIS TURNS 61

On Sunday, Oct. 8, His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Sarkis Church in Dearborn, Michigan. During the Liturgy, he ordained twelve acolytes: Sarine Cherbetjian, Serge Cherbetjian, Joseph Garabedian, Vartan Karapetian, Lori Kevorkian, Nareg Kevorkian, Haig Nazaretian, Jacob Schlecher, Lucas Schlecher, Alexan Topouzian, Tsoleen Zulkiewski, and Viken Zulkiewski. He also conceded the rank of subdeacon to Alexander Kurkechian and Berj Vartanian.

In his sermon, the Prelate expressed his joy over the ordinations as they coincided with the celebration of the Feast of the 72 Holy Disciples of Christ the day before, according to the Armenian liturgical calendar. Whether an Apostle or a Disciple, an acolyte or a subdeacon or a clergyman of any rank, the Prelate said, they justify their vocation as a reflection of Christ and serving with his life the luminous faith predicated by Him, the hope and love that modern society needs so badly as it suffers amid uncertainty and following the wrong ways. 

The church’s 61th anniversary and the parish’s 91th anniversary were celebrated in the parish hall after the Divine Liturgy. Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian, Pastor, thanked all the church bodies and the faithful for their unreserved dedication and the newly consecrated acolytes and subdeacons for their loyalty. In remarks that followed, Archbishop Anoushavan praised Fr. Hrant for his spirit of initiative, which helped with the renovation of the church and the parish hall, with the full support of the Board of Trustees, associated bodies and sister organizations. He also had complimentary words for the youth, singling out the projects to involve college students in the community. 

The memorable day ended with a benediction and the traditional singing of Giligia.