| NEW
YORK, NY—The New York metropolitan community came out
in large numbers to witness a ceremony that takes place only
occasionally in the United States—the ordination of an
individual to the holy order of priesthood.
St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral in New York City was filled with the Faithful, some
traveling thousands of miles, to witness and celebrate this
ceremony on the weekend of November 19 and 20, 2005. The candidate
was Deacon Krikor Lakissian of New York. The ordaining bishop
was His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America.
The sponsoring priest was V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian,
Vicar of the Prelacy, and the Godfather was Richard Sarajian,
Esq.
Service
of Calling
In accordance
with the canons of the Armenian Church the “Service of
Calling” to the priesthood began Saturday evening immediately
after the Vespers service. During this service the candidate’s
life, faith and readiness to enter the glorious, but demanding,
ministry of the priesthood was examined by the Prelate.
Deacon
Krikor, on his knees, was led from the narthex of the Cathedral
to the sanctuary and was presented to the Prelate by V. Rev.
Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, the vicar of the Prelacy and the candidate’s
sponsoring priest.
The Archbishop
questioned Father Tanielian regarding the candidate’s
willingness and spiritual maturity to enter the priesthood.
Once this was established, the Archbishop turned to the candidate
and asked whether he anathemizes and rejects the teachings of
the heretics, to which the candidate responded in the affirmative.
The candidate was then asked if he is a student and follower
of the holy fathers of the church, namely, the champions of
the orthodox faith such as St. Gregory the Illuminator, St.
Athanasius, St. Basil the Great, Sts. Sahag and Mesrob, St.
Cyril of Jerusalem, St. Ephraim the Syrian, St. John Chrysostom,
St. John of Otzoon, St. Gregory of Datev, and all the fathers
of the Ecumenical Councils of Nicea, Constantinople, and Ephesus.
To which Deacon Krikor replied, “I am their disciple and
follower.” Then at the command of the Archbishop, the
candidate recited the Orthodox faith of the Armenian Apostolic
Church (a creed attributed to St. Gregory of Datev, which is
a more elaborate creed than the Nicene Creed recited during
the Divine Liturgy). Making the sign of the cross over the candidate’s
head, Srpazan Hayr prayed that the Lord would tenderly protect,
with blessings fortify and with grace illuminate his mind, his
senses, his heart, his thoughts, his words and deeds, his coming
and going. The service of calling ended with the recitation
of the Lord’s Prayer.
Other clergy
participating in the Saturday evening service included: V. Rev.
Fr. Shahe Panossian, V. Rev. Fr. Bartev Gulumian, V. Rev. Fr.
Daniel Garabedian, Archpriest Moushegh Der Kaloustian, Archpriest
Arshag Daghlian, Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, Rev. Fr. Bedros
Shetilian, and Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian.
Ordination
and Consecration
The next
morning, Sunday, November 20, the Cathedral was again filled.
The Divine Liturgy began with the Episcopal procession and continued
until Zi Voghormadz, right before the scriptural readings. As
the Prelate took his place on the Episcopal throne, Deacon Krikor,
walking on his knees was brought before the Archbishop with
psalmody and hymns, escorted by the sponsoring priest. After
one final inquiry regarding the candidate’s qualifications
for the priesthood, the Prelate placed his hands on the candidate’s
head and prayed that the candidate would be “worthy to
keep the priestly rank spotless, and that he would be a worker
who has no need to be ashamed, and that the Lord would grant
him apostolic grace to heal, to preach, to call upon the Holy
Spirit to accomplish the Holy Sacraments.”
At the
end of this powerful prayer, Archbishop Oshagan, taking the
stole from Deacon Krikor’s left shoulder, placed it around
his neck, saying: “Take the yoke of our Lord Jesus Christ;
for His yoke is sweet and His burden is light.” The Liturgy
resumed with scriptural readings and continued until the Kiss
of Peace when once again the candidate was brought before the
Archbishop.
After a
lengthy prayer, Deacon Krikor was given the vestments of his
office, one piece at a time, accompanied with prayers. While
he was being vested, the choir sang Khorhoort Khorheen (O Mystery
Profound). Fully vested, the candidate was now ready to be anointed
and receive his ordained name—the moment everyone was
awaiting. “Blessed and anointed and cleansed be the forehead
of the priest Der… Mesrob….” With these words
Archbishop Oshagan consecrated the new priest and handed the
Holy Chalice to him as a sign of authority to offer the Holy
Sacrifice, and invited him to give his blessing to the congregation.
Der Mesrob turned towards the faithful and gave his first blessing
saying, Khaghaghoutioun Amenetzoun (Peace to all). Thus, the
ordination ceremony concluded.
Prelate’s
Sermon
In his
sermon, Archbishop Oshagan spoke about service and love. “The
heavens are happy today,” he said, “because Der
Mesrob has pledged to give his life to Christ. Since his youthful
years he has followed the way of our Lord. He came to the United
States to serve the Prelacy and today we have ordained him to
serve as a shepherd to our people.”
Addressing
the newly ordained priest His Eminence said, “Dear Der
Hayr, the cross is not suffering. The cross is the complete
picture of Christ. When we carry the cross with complete love
and dedication it is not a burden.”
His primary
advice to Der Mesrob was to love the Church and the Faithful.
“If I have one word of advice to you, it is to love God
and those you serve and to follow Christ. What does it mean
to follow Christ? It means to be Christ-like in all aspects
of life.”
Archbishop
Oshagan spoke about his choice of the name Mesrob for the new
priest. “In our history the first recorded name of Mesrob
belonged to a Vartabed. A clergyman who heard the call of God
and followed Him and through his divine invention gave to our
people the words of the Bible. He gave our people identity.
This year is the 1600th anniversary of the Armenian alphabet,
and for that reason we felt it appropriate to choose the name
Mesrob. We hope as you begin your service you will always bring
to your mind the work and deeds of that Vartabed.”
The Prelate
continued: “We also selected the name Mesrob in honor
of His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian who served our Prelacy
for many years with distinction.” Again addressing Der
Mesrob, the Prelate said: “He showed you how a clergyman
should live. You saw his work, his dedication to the Armenian
Church and the caring attention he gave the people. On this
happy occasion I pray that you become Christ-like and be a righteous
servant of the Armenian Church. May our Lord bless you with
a long and healthy life.”
The Liturgy
resumed with the “Kiss of Peace.” The clergy exchanged
the kiss of peace with their newly ordained brother by embracing
him and kissing his anointed forehead and hands.
At the
end of the Liturgy, the congregation was invited to come forward
and greet Der Mesrob, kiss his anointed forehead and receive
his blessings. With the help of his Godfather, Richard Sarajian,
the Holy Muron was washed from his forehead and hands.
Other clergy
participating in the service on Sunday included V. Rev. Fr.
Bartev Gulumian, former dean of the Seminary in Antelias, V.
Rev. Fr. Daniel Garabedian, Archpriest Moushegh Der Kaloustian,
and Archpriest Arshag Daghlian.
Reception
after Service
A reception
took place in Pashalian Hall immediately after the ceremony
where everyone had the opportunity to congratulate Der Mesrob,
Yeretzgeen, and Diramayr.
An elaborate
table had been prepared by the Cathedral’s Ladies Guild,
which the Prelate blessed and invited all to partake.
Archbishop
Oshagan again presented the newly ordained priest, emphasizing
some of the points in his sermon. “I chose the name Mesrob,”
said the Prelate, “in honor of the 1600th anniversary
of the invention of the Armenian alphabet which we are celebrating
this year, and also in honor of the blessed memory of Archbishop
Mesrob Ashjian, who served as Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy
for two decades. It was primarily during his tenure that our
new priest served the Prelacy. He grew up under his tutelage.”
Der Mesrob
expressed his deep thanks to Archbishop Oshagan for his fatherly
guidance, to Hayr Anoushavan his sponsoring priest and teacher,
and to his Godfather on this occasion, Richard Sarajian, Esq.
He spoke
emotionally about the two clergymen who had great influence
on him during his formative years in the Seminary and beyond,
namely His Holiness Karekin II, during his pontificate as Catholicos
of Cilicia, and Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian. “Neither one
is with us today,” he said, “but I believe they
are watching us from their heavenly home.”
*
* *
Krikor
Lakissian was born in Anjar, Lebanon, with ancestral roots in
Musa Dagh. He entered the Armenian Theological Seminary in Antelias
in 1983 and graduated in 1990. He was sent to the United States
in August 1991 to serve in the offices of the Eastern Prelacy.
During this time he attended Queens College to further his English
education. At the Prelacy he served in a number of capacities,
including for many years as the manager of the Bookstore.
He has
served as a Deacon at the Cathedral for nearly 15 years. He
has been a teacher of Armenian language, history and religion
at St. Sarkis Saturday School and St. Illuminator’s Day
School. For the past three years he has served as the principal
of the Siamanto Academy in New York. He is married to Ojen Baboumian
and they have a daughter, Taleen.
In 2001
he was recognized and honored by Governor George Pataki of New
York for “dedicated service” and in recognition
of the vital role he played in “promoting the needs of
New York’s Armenian American community.” The commendation
praised him for his extraordinary efforts “on behalf of
the youth, through his service at Saturday, Sunday and Day schools.”
Forty
Day Seclusion
In accordance
with the tradition of the Armenian Church, Der Mesrob is retreating
for forty days at Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New
Jersey, where he is under the supervision of his sponsoring
priest, V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, and V. Rev. Fr. Shahe
Panossian, pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church.
Following
the forty-day seclusion, Der Mesrob will celebrate his first
Divine Liturgy at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral on Sunday,
December 25.
May the
Lord Jesus Christ make him worthy of his priesthood.
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