Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), visited St. James Church of Evanston,
Ill., last weekend where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy and ordained altar
servers. On Saturday, July 6, the Primate ordained Jesse Arlen, Antranik
Balian, Haig Hagopian, Malkoon Malkoonian, Vartkes Minatiskan, and Andrew
Rejebian to the rank of acolyte. The Rev. Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan, parish
pastor, and the Rev. Fr. Paren Galstyan, pastor of St. George Church of
Waukegan, Ill. and Holy Resurrection Church of South Milwaukee, Wis., took part
in the ordination service.
The teenagers and young men worked with Fr.
Khoja-Eynatyan and church deacons to prepare for their new responsibilities.
Many of them took part in a summer camp for acolyte training, and gained
experience by serving regularly at the church.
During a reception following the ordination service, the
community gathered to congratulate the newly ordained altar servers. The
acolytes' family members had an opportunity to speak with Archbishop Barsamian
and to receive his blessings.
"Love towards the church begins in the family,"
Fr. Khoja-Eynatyan said. "We are grateful to the parents of these young
altar servers for planting the seeds of service in their children."
On Sunday, July 7, the Feast of the Transfiguration,
Archbishop Barsamian celebrated the Divine Liturgy, with Fr. Khoja-Eynatyan
assisting. During the service, Aras Korogluyan and Arie Zakarian were ordained
to the diaconate. The newly ordained deacons then served on the altar for the
remainder of the badarak.
Both men are active in the local ACYOA. Aras chairs the
ACYOA Juniors group while Arie, who recently moved to the Evanston area, leads
the ACYOA Seniors.
"It is great to see two young men step forward to
answer their call in serving our church and community," Fr. Khoja-Eynatyan
said. "It is this new generation that will carry forward our ancient
traditions here in America."
"After growing up all these years in the Armenian
Church, it was such an honor and privilege to be ordained as a deacon by
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian," Arie Zakarian said. "I was so grateful
to have my parents, my friends, and my new St. James ‘family' attending and sharing
in this special, meaningful ceremony."
"Without such an active, devout youth, who keep our
various Diocesan programs thriving, and an older, wiser generation to support
us, I don't think I would have been able to acquire the tools needed to be
ordained," added Aras Korogluyan.
More than 100 people took part in the service on Sunday.
In his sermon, Archbishop Barsamian spoke about the significance of Christ's
transfiguration on Mount Tabor, and how it relates to our lives today.
"We are like the disciples in the story of the
Transfiguration. Christ has called us to walk with him. Why did he choose us?
Where is he taking us? We cannot say for certain. All we know is that he is
leading us upward," Archbishop Barsamian said. "With his hand on our
shoulder, and his voice in our ear saying ‘Be not afraid,' Christ has come to
lead us out of the darkness."
"The young altar servers ordained over the past two
days are walking with Christ, and with Him they will reach new heights,"
he went on. "May God continue to guide them as they embark on this journey
in their lives as Armenian Christians."
During a banquet following services, a video was screened
highlighting the many activities if St. James Church. Loucine Emrikian gave a
musical performance.
On this occasion, the parish also marked the third anniversary
of Fr. Khoja-Eynatyan's ordination to the holy priesthood. A celebratory cake
was presented to Fr. Khoja-Eynatyan and the newly ordained altar servers.
Archbishop Barsamian expressed his appreciation to the
parishioners of St. James for their dedication to the Armenian Church. He noted
that the parish has produced a number of lay leaders who have served the
Diocese in many capacities.
"As Armenian Christians, we must always be aware of
our roots. We have a very special identity, and it is our duty to preserve and
enrich that identity for future generations," Archbishop Barsamian said.
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