Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan following Der Hovhan's ordination. Both are St. Nersess alumni
His Eminence Abp. Khajag Barsamian prepares the holy myron to anoint the forehead to Fr. Hovhan.The new Rev. Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan, formerly Leon, was already well-known in the Eastern Diocese when he began his Seminary studies three years ago. A conservatory-trained musician and professional instructor in percussion, he devoted a great deal of his time and talent to the church.
Professional Musician Serves Church
Locally, he served as organist of his home parish in Washington, DC). Later he was an instructor and then coordinator of the Junior Choir Leadership Development Program of the Eastern Diocese. In this capacity he trained a generation of young men and women in the sacred music of the church, preparing them to become organists and choir directors.
Medzn Nersess
Feeling the call from God to deepen his service to the Church, he was accepted as a seminarian of the Eastern Diocese by His Eminence Abp. Khajag Barsamian, who ordained him. Married with two children, Deacon Leon began his studies while simultaneously continuing his full-time teaching. This May Rev. Khoja-Eynatyan was graduated from the Medzn Nersess [St. Nersess the Great] Program of St. Nersess Seminary. The two-year program is specially designed for students who enter seminary with advanced standing.
Fr. Hovhan has departed for Holy Etchmiadzin, where he will spend the traditional forty-dayKarasoonk period in prayer and preparation for his new ministry. Upon returning to the U.S. he will serve as an assistant pastor in Washington, DC, before being assigned to his own parish within the Eastern Diocese.
For a translation of the Armenian Church's Sacrament of Priestly Ordination, CLICK HERE.