Deacon Ordained at St. Nersess Seminary

On Sunday, July 1, Seminarian Timothy Aznavourian was ordained to the holy order of the diaconate by His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Ecumenical Director and Diocesan Legate of the Eastern Diocese. Vicken Srpazan was invited to officiate at the ordination by the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese and President of the St. Nersess Board of Directors, who was also in attendance.

Family, friends, and the participants of the Deacons’ Training Program, which was in session, witnessed the beautiful ordination service during the Divine Liturgy in the St. Hagop Chapel. The Rev. Fr. Shnork Souin, Pastor of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church of Providence, RI, served as Dn. Timothy’s sponsoring priest. Also present was the Rev. Fr. Karekin Kasparian, the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Dean, and the Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian. Several of the Deacons’ Training Program students and staff actively participated in the service as acolytes and deacons and in the choir.

“I was so filled with joy and gratitude about having Vicken Srpazan as my ordaining bishop and also because my former pastor, Fr. Shnork, was my khardavilag (sponsor). Fr. Shnork has been a closefriend and mentor to me for the past five years and without his encouragement I would not be serving the Armenian Church to the extent that I am now. He and Yn. Julie have been through so much in the past year, and are both examples of Christian love and service which I hope to emulate in my capacity as a deacon of the Armenian Church.” proclaimed Dn. Timothy.

Following the Badarak, a group photo was taken outside the theological center before everyone enjoyed a celebratory lunch. Dn. Timothy has been teaching at the Deacons’ Training Program this summer and in the fall, he will continue his studies at the Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for the upcoming academic year. He plans to graduate from St. Nersess in May 2020.