PRELATE LEADS DIVINE LITURGY, BLESSES KHACHKAR IN MEMORY OF ARCHBISHOP MESROB ASHJIAN

On the Feast of the Nativity and Epiphany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, celebrated the Divine Liturgy and presided over the Blessing of Water ceremony. Rafael Yessaian, son of Bedros and Liza Yessaian, served as Godfather. Participating in the services were His Grace Bishop Bedros Manouelian, the newly appointed Dean of the Armenian community of Venezuela, Archpriest Fr. Nerses Manoogian, Pastor Emeritus of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Philadelphia, and Archpriest Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Pastor of the Cathedral, who served at the Altar. 

After the Blessing of Water, Archbishop Anoushavan conducted the blessing of a khachkar, donated to the Cathedral by Archpriest Fr. Nerses in memory of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian. The blessing took place in the presence of Archbishop Mesrob’s sister, Hripsime Ashjian, and her family. In brief remarks, Fr. Nerses shared his reflections on the memory of Archbishop Mesrob and said he was moved to make the gift to St. Illuminator’s because it is where Fr. Mesrob ordained him priest in 1987. The khachkar, beautifully carved in Armenia of oiled fruitwood, will be installed at the front of the Sanctuary, between the side Altar devoted to St. Mesrob Mashdots and the door to the vestry.