On the evening of October 1, 29 of the Eastern Diocesan yeretzgins gathered online for one of the largest gatherings of clergy wives ever held in the Diocese.
Each year since 1985, yeretzgins have come together during Annual Diocesan Assemblies in various formats to connect, share, and pray together. This year, due to the pandemic and the cancellation of the annual Diocesan Assembly, they were unable to gather together.
Thanks to the suggestion and invitation by Diocesan Vicar Fr. Simeon Odabashian, a few yeretzgins organized the recent gathering of this sisterhood of faith. The virtual format allowed for our participants from across the Eastern Diocese – some of whom had never had the opportunity to meet one another in person — to meet and connect in fellowship and in prayer.
All were pleased to see one another, to remember their sisters of blessed memory who paved the path for pastors’ wives today, and to begin to plan for future gatherings and projects. But the evening went forward against a backdrop of deep concern due to the situation in Artsakh and Armenia.
The meeting was an opportunity to discuss the current situation in Artsakh and to pray for loved ones and all who are on the front lines and living in the homeland. As a group the participants decided to take action and demonstrate Christian witness, love, and compassion, by gathering donations to be sent on behalf of the Eastern Diocesan yeretzgins to benefit the clergy families serving in Artsakh. To date, they have gathered over $5,500 for the clergy families.
Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel Findikyan and Fr. Odabashian joined the meeting for a portion of the evening. Bishop Daniel acknowledged the “spiritual force” he sensed on the call, noting that a yeretzgin is “not just the wife of the Armenian priest, but is an instrumental part of parish life,” and one who “people often approach for counsel, wisdom, prayer, compassion, and love.” Noting each of the women as a “unique individual, with different skills, talents, interests, and grace,” the Primate said he was pleased to see them “gathering together to strengthen each other in that grace” and to be agents of Building Up the Body of Christ in the Diocese.
Fr. Odabashian, who was instrumental in organizing the evening, expressed his encouragement and happiness to see the gathering come to fruition.
The yeretzgins enjoyed learning more about one another individually and about each of their families, parishes, careers, and lives. They concluded the evening in prayer for Artsakh and for peace and healing in our world. Noting the importance of connecting with one another as sisters in Christ who share common experiences, the yeretzgins enthusiastically look forward to planning future gatherings and projects.