International Orthodox Christian News

The 79^th academic year of the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s Seminary was inaugurated this Sunday during an official ceremony in the Veharan following the Holy Mass on the occasion of the Feast of the Holy Translators (Tarkmantchats).

His Holiness Aram I presided over the Mass in the Cathedral. Bishop Shahe Panossian, the Seminary Dean, officiated the Mass. In his sermon, Bishop Panossian spoke about the Seminary’s mission in the service of the church and the people.

Following the mass, the procession of the Cilician Brotherhood and Seminary students was led by His Holiness Aram I to the Veharan, where the opening ceremony was held. The Seminary’s Alma Mater and hymns on the Feast of Translation were sung. Sections from the Holy Gospel and Nareg were read.

Speaking on behalf of the Seminary’s management, Bishop Shahe highlighted the sacred work carried out by the Seminary in passing on a noble mission to the new generation. “The responsibility for this task is placed on our shoulders for the sake of our church’s and the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s further growth,” he said. Finally, the Bishop expressed his gratitude to the Pontiff who closely follows life in the Seminary and the activities of its management.

With his pontifical blessings His Holiness Aram I announced the new academic year opened and stressed the need to preserve our church’s and nation’s history and traditions. Looking at the legacy of our translating forefathers, His Holiness spoke about the beginning of the new academic year as an occasion that spreads hope in Armenian communities worldwide. The Pontiff also spoke about certain phenomena that drive us away from our roots. He called upon those present and particularly the Seminary students to study the history of our church and the tradition of our forefathers very well so that they can pass it on in its true form to the people.

His Holiness also spoke about the Seminary’s mission. The Pontiff depicted the Seminary as an intellectual-spiritual establishment, where the Armenian youth is formed and prepared to serve a mission. Portraying the Seminary as a treasure box of spiritual and intellectual values, His Holiness called upon new and old students to embrace those values, become enriched with them and to serve our nation, church and Motherland with utmost dedication.

The Seminary students, their parents and the believers attending the ceremony received the Pontiff’s blessings through Atchahampouyr while the Catholicosate’s Seminary sung “Cilicia” and “I Veh Partsants”. Following the staff meeting on Monday, October 13, the classes will begin in the Seminary in Bikfaya on October 14.

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