On November 5, the Feast Day of the Holy Archangels, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided over the consecration ceremony of the Church of Holy Archangels. The Church has been built on the grounds of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The benefactor is Mr. Gagik Galstian, of Yerevan, Armenia and the local architect is Mr. Jim Torosian. The ground blessing ceremony of the Church was held on September 10, 2007, and the crosses of the dome were consecrated on August 23, 2011. The Feast of Dedication (Navakatik) of the Church was held in the evening of November 4.
During the consecration, the Holy Altar and Columns of the Church were first washed, and the Pontiff of All Armenians then anointed the Holy Altar with Holy Muron (Chrism). His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America; and His Grace Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Primate of the Armenian Church of Damascus; anointed the four columns of the Altar.
Following the blessing and prayer of Thanks, the consecration service concluded with the Pontifical Prayer “Savior” (Pahpanich). His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian read the Pontifical Encyclical by which Mr. Gagik Galstian, Benefactor of the Church was bestowed with the Order of St. Gregory the Illuminator of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church. The Encyclical stated in part, “For years, with faith and a church-loving spirit, you have contributed your construction expertise and skills for the undertaking of the construction works of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Today the grounds of the Mother See are adorned with new and reconstructed buildings, completed with vigilance and care to serve for use by our clergy and faithful.
