Medal awarding and օrdination of scribes in Holy Cross church, Akhalkalaki Region

On January 19, 2025, His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, within the framework of his pontifical visit to Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka’s General Prelacy, celebrated the Sunday Divinel Liturgy at the Holy Cross (Surb Khach) church in Akhalkalaki. The Diocean Primate’s assistants in front of Holy Altar during the Divine Liturgy were Rev. Father Archimandrite Nshan Hmayakyan, Prelate at Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka’s General Prelacy and Rev. Father  Torgom Vardanyan from the St. Gregory the Illuminator (Surb Grigor Lusavoritch) church in Akhaltsikhe.

The day was truly festive, filled with joyful events. During the Divine Liturgy, according to the Pontifical Encyclical of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the celebrant awarded Ruben Bandikyan with the Nerses the Gracious (Nerses Shnorhali) Medal in recognition of his contributions to the reconstruction and renovation of the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Goman village.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, ordination of scribes took place. The Diocesan Primate explained the significance of the ordination of scribes, acknowledged the challenges of the clergy's responsibilities, offered guidance on overcoming them, and expressed hope that the scribes would continue to grow and excel under God's guidance and for the glory of the Armenian Church.

The sacred ceremony was performed with Bible readings and the singing of hymns and 23 ordination of scribes were called to the first degree of church service by His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia. In total, 10 of them are dedicated spiritual servants of the Armenian churches in Akhalkalaki, 10 in Ninotsminda, and three in Akhaltsikhe. The ordaining Bishop Kirakos Davtyan cut a lock of hair from the heads of the ordained as a symbol of their renunciation of worldly desires. Then he gave them a Prayerbook, broom, key, Bible, Mashtots ritual book, a candlestick, and a cup. Each of them has its own meaning.

The day was special and historic. The solemn ceremony was attended by Rev. Father Hakob Sahakyan, Rev. Father Armash Poghosyan, Rev. Father Narek Tigranyan, Rev. Father Tadeos Ter-Mkrtchyan and others.

The solemn ceremony was attended by Nairi Iritsyan, Chairman of the Akhalkalaki Regional Aassembly (Sakrebulo) and Deputy Mayor Mkrtich Mghdesyan, as well as parents and numerous faithful.

At the end, the Diocesan Primate offered his fatherly blessing to those who had received their ordinations.