Armenian Apostolic Church La Cañada & Crescenta Valley: Dn. Matthew Now Rev. Fr. Mesrob

St. John Armenian Apostolic Church was the setting for yet another historical chapter in the life of the Western Diocese. On Sunday, April 29, 2012, during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America ordained and consecrated Dn. Matthew Ash into the Sacred Order of the Priesthood, bringing the total number of priests ordained and consecrated by Archbishop Derderdian thus far to 30.

More than 400 people attended the ordination ceremony in San Francisco. Assisting the celebrant at the holy altar were Archpriest Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan, Diocesan Priesthood-Candidates Dns. Hovnan Vardanyan and Guzh Khachikyan, St. John Parish Council Chair Dn. Sarkis Kestekyan and acolytes. Archpriest Fr. Kevork Arakelian, Archpriest Fr. Shahe Altounian and Rev. Fr. Avedis Abovian participated in the service. Attending the service were members and friends of the Ash family, Diocesan Council Chair Armen Hampar with his wife Nora, Godfather Peter Abajian with his wife Houry civic and ecumenical leaders, and the faithful of St. John the Evangelist Armenian Apostolic Church of San Francisco.

Archpriest Fr. Arshag Khatchadourian, (the Priest who baptized Dn. Matthew Ash) led the kneeling candidate to the altar. After the confirmation of the candidate’s worthiness, the priests placed their hands on the shoulders of Dn. Matthew. Led kneeling to the center of the bema, Dn. Matthew presented himself to the people by facing the congregation and in a gesture of assent to their will, he raised his hands.

The culmination of the ceremony took place as the Primate robed Dn. Matthew in Priestly vestments, anointed the priest and announced Dn. Matthew’s new name – Fr. Mesrob. Holding his hands open, Fr. Mesrob received the chalice and paten from the Primate. According to tradition, the newly-ordained Fr. Mesrob blessed the people by saying Khaghaghootyoon amanetsoon (Peace unto all).  At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Mesrob stood at the center of the chancel and silently read Holy Scriptures. The faithful greeted him by kissing his freshly-anointed hands.

Armenian Apostolic Church La Cañada & Crescenta, 2767 Foothill Blvd., La Crescenta, (818) 558-7474 or visit www.armenianchurchwd.com.