His Eminence Abp. Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America conducted the sacrament of ordination according to the traditional rites of the Armenian Church.
The ceremony of Calling to the Priesthood took place on Saturday evening at 7:30PM, with the sacrament of ordination taking place during the Divine Liturgy on Sunday. Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian and the St. Nersess seminarians participated in the services. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor of St. Mary Armenian Church (Washington, DC) and a St. Nersess alumnus, served as Fr. Mesrop's sponsoring priest. Der Hayr is currently completing his forty-day post-ordination retreat at St. Nersess Seminary.
Fr. Mesrop served as a pastoral intern under the supervision of Rev. Fr. Karekin Kasparian, Pastor of St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church (White Plains, NY), for one year. He also recently earned a Master's degree in Pastoral Studies from Fordham University.
Following his karasoonk, Der Mesrop will serve as the parish priest of St. James Armenian Church (Richmond,VA). We all wish Der Hayr and his wife, Yeretzgin Ruzanna, many fruitful and prosperous years.