Clergy throughout the Eastern Diocese marked a holy day with special relevance to their vocation and the trials of the past year, on the Feast of the Ghevontiantz Saints, observed on February 9, 2021.
Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel Findikyan presided over the service hosted by St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn, NJ–which is itself named for St. Ghevont (Latinized as Leontius or Leon). Attending were pastors and deacons from the New York-New Jersey and Mid-Atlantic regions.
St. Leon pastor Fr. Diran Bohajian celebrated the Divine Liturgy, and Fr. Hakob Gevorgyan, pastor of Holy Trinity Church of Cheltenham, PA, delivered a homily connecting the story of the 5th-century Ghevontian martyrs with the heroic sacrifices of countless young Armenians in the recent war in Artsakh. Among the thousands of lives claimed last year, he noted, were young priests and deacons serving on the front lines of the conflict.
The historical St. Ghevont played a critical role in the drama of the Vartanantz war. On the eve of battle, Ghevont celebrated the Divine Liturgy, conferred the sacrament of Holy Communion on the soldiers, and baptized those who had not yet been received into the church. His stirring sermon assured the soldiers that their mystical union with Christ would survive even physical violence and death.
He remains one of the great exemplars of the Armenian priesthood, remembered for his rare courage and resolution at the Battle of Avarayr.
The Ultimate Battle Has Already Been Won
To conclude the service, the Primate offered some brief reflections of his own. “Only a few of us are gathered physically in this sanctuary today,” he began, “but our hearts are joined with our clergy brothers, wherever they are, throughout our Diocese and the world.”
He went on: “We remember our Catholicos Karekin II, and pray for the unbelievable burden that rests on his shoulders. Like St. Ghevont and his companions–who gave themselves fully to God’s will–we pray that our Catholicos, bishops, and clergy will give themselves fully to God.”
“Doing God’s will is not always about smiling and happiness and fellowship; it also involves pain and suffering,” he observed. “We will be reminded of that later this week as we honor St. Vartan: another example of giving oneself fully to God’s will.”
“And on Sunday, the first day of Lent this year falls on Dyarnuntarach: the Feast of the Lord’s Presentation to the Temple. It celebrates the complete self-giving of our Lord, in love and service, to a goal which is much higher than any of us. Let us be inspired by it, so that we can live with hope through the suffering and sickness of these days…”
Addressing his brother clergy, Bishop Daniel concluded: “Through all the anger, pain, and tears, let us recommit ourselves to the church and to our service to God. The ultimate battle has already been won, by the Lord Jesus Christ. What remains for us is to say ‘Amen,’ and to confirm that we are God’s servants. With courage, may we be emboldened to say, ‘Park kez Asdzvadz, park kez, haghakus amenayni Der park kez’: ‘Glory to you God, glory to you, in all things, glory to you.’”
Click on the following links to watch the recorded service. , to watch Fr. Gevorkyan’s sermon, and watch Bishop Daniel’s concluding remarks.