Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan paid a pastoral visit to St. Peter Church in Watervliet, NY, over the weekend of July 18-19, joining the parish community for worship, fellowship, and the ordination of new altar servers.
Early in the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, Bishop Mesrop ordained Patrick Kayaian and Jonah Doudoukjian to the rank of deacon. In their first official service as deacons, Dn. Patrick chanted the Gospel and Dn. Jonah presented the gifts during the Great Entrance, as Bishop Mesrop celebrated the badarak.
Also ordained by the Bishop’s hand were three new subdeacons—Gregory Kayayan, Gregory Parseghian, and Noah Tutunjian—and seven acolytes, including brothers Armen, Gregory and Matthew Amirbekian; Sarkis Hoglund; brothers Frankie and Michael Knorr; and James Tournayan.
The Primate also offered a special blessing for the members of the parish choir, recognizing their special ministry in the worship life of the church.
Reflecting on the occasion, Bishop Mesrop said that seeing so many faithful step forward to serve “is a beautiful witness of faith and a source of hope for the entire Armenian Church.” He prayed that the newly ordained deacons and altar servers would “always serve with humility, wisdom, and love, helping others experience the light of Christ.”
Following the service, some 200 parishioners enjoyed a barbecue picnic on the church grounds, where the Primate expressed his gratitude to parish pastor Fr. Stepanos and Yn. Paulette Doudoukjian, the parish council, choir, altar servers, parish organizations, the local Knights of Vartan, “and all the faithful whose efforts made the visit a joyful celebration of parish life.”
“Your dedication and love are a living witness to the strength and faith of this wonderful parish family,” he said. “May you continue to grow together in faith, hope, and the love of Christ.”