ST. GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR CHURCH CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY WITH ORDINATIONS AND MADAGH

On Sunday, April 6, 2025, His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, celebrated the Divine Liturgy, delivered the sermon, and officiated ordinations of deacons, subdeacons, and minor ranks at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church in Philadelphia.  

In honor of the feast of St. Gregory the Illuminator’s descent into the pit, the Philadelphia parish marked its 98th anniversary with solemn and joyful ceremonies. 

Three ordinations were performed by Archbishop Anoushavan, while the investiture of the candidates was carried out by the church’s pastor, Very Rev. Fr. Boghos Tinkjian.

At the start of the Divine Liturgy, 37 boys and girls received the rank of acolytes. Next followed the ordination of five subdeacons: Noubar Yeremian, Sarkis and Michael Zeibari, William and Levon Chapanian—each of them invited to take on the sweet yoke of Christ and carry the people’s prayers to God with incense.

During the “For He is Merciful” prayer, three subdeacons—Kevork Artinian, Noubar Yeremian, and Gregory Vosbigian—knelt before the altar to renounce the world and dedicate their lives to the Holy Altar as they were ordained to the diaconate.

At the conclusion of the ordinations, Archbishop Anoushavan congratulated the entire parish on its 98th anniversary and blessed all the newly ordained and their families. Afterwards the Prelate elevated Deacon Vartan Karakelian—who has served the church for 35 years—to the rank of archdeacon, noting that his dedication should inspire the new generation. 

Following the Liturgy, the Prelate conducted a madagh blessing in the Founders’ Hall. The harisa offering was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Mari Degirmenci, and Very Rev. Fr. Boghos announced the establishment of a new tradition of offering madagh every year on the feast day. 

The celebration continued with the traditional cutting of the anniversary cake. At the end of the luncheon, Fr. Boghos thanked the Prelate for his presence and to the Women’s Guild and Board of Trustees for organizing the reception. Board of Trustees chairman Mike Injeyan also delivered remarks, thanking the Prelate for presiding and Fr. Boghos for his year of devoted service. 

In his closing words, Archbishop Anoushavan praised Fr. Boghos’s commitment to the Prelacy and especially the Philadelphia parish, offering warm wishes to mark the parish’s centennial in the near future.