CATHOLICOS ARAM I PRESIDES OVER AN AGAPE GATHERING OF THE CILICIAN BROTHERHOOD

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I presided over an agape gathering of the Brotherhood of Cilicia and the extended family of the Seminary at the St. Mary Monastery in Bikfaya on June 22. The gathering, known as a fruit table (bdghaseghan) in Seminary tradition, marked the admission into the ranks of the Brotherhood of the Cilician See of Fr. Norayr and Fr. Hrayr, two seminarians who were ordained celibate priests the previous day.  

As is tradition, during the meal the title of Benjamin was bestowed upon Fr. Hrayr, who received it from Fr. Tavit. On behalf of himself and his fellow ordinand, Fr. Hrayr expressed gratitude and pledged to remain faithful to the mission and reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to the Church.  

Upon the invitation of Master of Ceremonies V. Rev. Fr. Kevork, His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, spoke on behalf of the Brotherhood and also congratulated His Holiness Catholicos Aram I on the 31st anniversary of his enthronement. Other speakers were V. Rev. Fr. Barouyr Shernezian for the Seminary administration; Dr. Shaghig Khudaverdian for the teachers; Mrs. Ani Dedeyan for the Ladies Guild; and Deacon Sarkis Nahabedian for the students. Also present at the agape were Dikran and Lucy Karagavourian and Raffi and Anahid Kesmeyan, who served as the godparents of the two newly ordained Fathers. 

At the conclusion of the gathering, the Catholicos delivered his closing message. His Holiness underscored the importance of preserving the traditions handed down by our forebears and transmitting them to future generations, noting that a nation is enriched by its traditions and survives through its collective memory.  

Catholicos Aram I also emphasized the unique role of the Seminary in the life of the Diaspora and the responsibility of remaining faithful to the sacred mission entrusted to it by our people: the formation of exemplary individuals and dedicated servants of the Church and nation. 

Finally, His Holiness expressed his appreciation to the Seminary’s administrative and teaching staff, who spare no effort in providing the seminarians with a Christian and Armenian upbringing. He also acknowledged all those who support and sustain the Seminary and its mission.

The evening concluded with the singing of the hymn “Cilicia” and the patriarchal anthem “I Veh Partsants.”