Press Release: Deacon Ordained For Service In Church In Sydney

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood   NSW   2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact:  Laura Artinian
Tel:  (02) 9419-8056
Fax:  (02) 9904-8446
Email:  armenian@idx.com.au


20 December 2004


DEACON ORDAINED FOR SERVICE IN CHURCH IN SYDNEY

Sydney, Australia - On Sunday, 19th December, 2004 in the Armenian Apostolic
Church of Holy Resurrection, His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian,
Primate of the Diocese of Australia & New Zealand ordained Acolyte Shnork
Nigoghossian as Deacon.  Also partaking in the ceremony were Reverend Father
Norayr Patanian, Reverend Father Bartev Karakashian, Deacons, Acolytes and
the Church Lousavorich Choir.

Deacon Shnork is the seventh ordained deacon of the Church of Holy
Resurrection.

During the ordination rite, through prayers and blessings, the
newly-ordained received the order of sub-deacon and deacon.  It was deeply
moving when he committed himself to the service of God in front of the
congregation, humbly kneeling before the altar with arms raised and ears
blocked rejecting earthly standards.

The new order grants Deacon Shnork the privilege to perform sacred rituals
in the church that includes censing, chanting the Gospel reading during the
Divine Liturgy, and transferring the veiled chalice containing the gifts
(bread and wine) to the priest during The Eucharist.

The word "deacon" means "one who serves".  The position is believed to have
its origin rooted with the Apostles in the Jerusalem church.  The primary
role of the deacon then was to care for the physical needs of the
congregation, a role which continues until today in traditional churches.

St Paul writes in his first letter to Timothy "Deacons are to be men worthy
of respect, sincere .. they must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith
with a clear conscience."

Deacon Shnork Nigoghossian has served the Armenian Apostolic Church over the
past 15 years.   He was born in Istanbul, Turkey, is married to Askanoush
and has two children.  For many years, Deacon Shnork has been actively
involved in all aspects of church life.