On Sunday, April 14, parishioners of St. George Church of Hartford, Conn., gathered to celebrate a special milestone—the tenth anniversary of the ordination of their pastor, the Rev. Fr. Gomidas Zohrabian, to the holy priesthood of the Armenian Church.
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PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: publicrelations@armeniandiocese.org
Website: www.armenianchurch-ed.net
April 29, 2013
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Hartford Parish Celebrates Pastor’s Milestone
On Sunday, April 14, parishioners of St. George Church of Hartford, Conn., gathered to celebrate a special milestone—the tenth anniversary of the ordination of their pastor, the Rev. Fr. Gomidas Zohrabian, to the holy priesthood of the Armenian Church.
On this occasion, the community welcomed Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), who ordained Fr. Zohrabian at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York City in February 2003.
Fr. Zohrabian celebrated the Divine Liturgy, with Archbishop Barsamian presiding. At the conclusion of the service, the Very Rev. Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian read aloud the Primate’s letter honoring Fr. Zohrabian with a pectoral cross. Archbishop Barsamian bestowed the cross on Fr. Zohrabian, saying, “May the holy cross continue to guide you and strengthen you in your pastoral ministry.”
A banquet, prepared by the families of the parish, followed in the church’s Assadourian Hall. The event was organized by committee members Melanie Brown, Dn. Ashot Ghokasiyan, and Julie Ashekian.
The Rev. Fr. Krikoris Keshishian, pastor of St. Stephan’s Armenian Church, delivered the invocation. Master of ceremonies Dn. Ghokasiyan welcomed guests and offered congratulatory remarks to Fr. Zohrabian. A toast was offered by Julie Tashjian, co-chair of the parish council.
The St. George Sunday School students sang “Vork Zartaretzeen.” Mrs. Ashekian recalled how she and her husband, Clement, served as the ordination godparents for Fr. Zohrabian, and related her warm friendship with Fr. Zohrabian and his family.
Fr. Gulgulian, who was a classmate of Fr. Zohrabian at the Gevorkyan Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin, and who served as the sponsoring priest at his ordination, shared his memories of their brotherly journey.
Various parishioners also offered words of congratulations, and presented Fr. Zohrabian with a gift. Fr. Zohrabian also received a pectoral cross from his parents, Tumas and Khatun Zohrabian, and siblings Raffi, Alfred, and Lida Zohrabian.
He expressed his deep appreciation to the entire parish for their warmth. He said the past decade at St. George Church has been a rewarding experience for him as a pastor, and added that he looks forward to new accomplishments in the next chapter of his ministry.
Fr. Zohrabian generously established an endowment fund to benefit the parish’s altar servers, junior choir, and Sunday School programs. In lieu of gifts, parishioners made contributions to the fund.
“It is a joy to see a parish coming together, as a close-knit family, for worship and fellowship, and I am happy to share in this warm celebration today,” Archbishop Barsamian. “Der Hayr and Yn. Ellen are loving and faithful servants of our Lord, and this community—and our Diocese—are blessed to have their service.”
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Photos attached by
Photo 1: Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian, left, looks on as Archbishop Khajag Barsamian presents Fr. Gomidas Zohrabian with a pectoral cross.
Photo 2: Clergy, altar servers, and choir members pose for a group photo at St. George Church in Hartford, Conn.
Photo 3: Fr. Gomidas Zohrabian leads the parish children in the singing of “Vork Zartaretzeen.”
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