First Priestly Ordination of 2019

His Grace Bishop Daniel Findikyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese and President of the St. Nersess Board of Directors, ordained Dn. Narek Garabedian, a 2016 St. Nersess graduate, to the holy priesthood in an inspiring service at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church in Chicago on Saturday, June 29.  

More than 200 people gathered to witness the special service including a large presence of local ecumenical guests. His father, Archpriest Rev. Fr. Keghart Garabedian, served as the sponsoring priest and Mr. H. Nicholas Berberian served as the Godfather. The Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, who served as the ordination coordinator, was also present.   

Consecrating Dn. Narek’s forehead and hands with Holy Muron (oil), Bishop Daniel gave him the priestly name “Andreas” or Andrew, meaning the first-called of the Apostles. He is the first priestly ordination of Bishop Daniel and the first ordination to take place at that church.  

At the conclusion of the service, the newly ordained priest gave his first blessing to the faithful where he has served for the past two years as Deacon-in-Charge. A celebratory banquet followed.   

On the evening prior, the Service of Calling took place at St. Gregory. Fr. Andreas is currently spending 40 days in seclusion and prayer at the seminary in Armonk, NY, before returning to Chicago to serve as the pastor.  

“It was a great honor and blessing for me to ordain a priest for the first time in my young life as a bishop of the Armenian Church. And that, in the person of Fr. Andreas, who has been my student at St. Nersess and is now the nakhagoch, the ‘first to be called’ to the priesthood during my tenure as bishop. I have great confidence that, like the Apostle Andreas (Andrew), Der Andreas will devote all his energies to steering our people toward the loving embrace of Jesus Christ our God, in the spiritual garden of the Armenian Church,” commented Bishop Daniel.  

A second priestly ordination will take place this weekend, July 26-27. Dn. Arman Galstyan, a 2018 St. Nersess graduate, will be ordained by Bishop Daniel at the St. George Armenian Church of Hartford, CT.