{"id":27490,"date":"2026-08-22T22:11:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T18:11:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/armenianchurchco.com\/?p=27490"},"modified":"2026-08-22T22:14:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T18:14:20","slug":"conferral-of-the-subdeaconate-upon-two-seminarians-in-the-village-of-bavra-javakheti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/armenianchurchco.com\/en\/27490.html","title":{"rendered":"Conferral of the Subdiaconate Upon Two Seminarians in the Village of Bavra, Javakheti"},"content":{"rendered":"

On August 21, 2026, in the village of Bavra (Akhalkalaki region, Javakheti), the minor orders and the degree of subdiaconate were conferred upon two seminarians\u2014Bro. Hovhannes (Farid) Manukyan and Bro. Joe Mississian. The rites were administered by His Excellency Archbishop Kevork Noradounguian, Ordinary for Catholic Armenians, during the Divine Liturgy. The Mass was concelebrated by the parish priest of Bavra, Fr. Ruben Mississian, and the Dean of Armenian Catholic communities in Georgia, Very Rev. Fr. Mikael Khachkalyan. The candidates were presented by the parish priest of Eshtia and former pastor of Bavra, Fr. Anton Antonyan, who fulfilled the role of the sponsor \u2013 Khartavilak, in Armenian. Also present at the ceremony was Rev. Fr. Gevorg Sargsyan of the Mechitarist Congregation. Also serving at the altar during the ceremony were seminarians and subdeacons Br. Emmanuel Mouradyan, Br. Artyom Hovhannisyan, Br. Vardan Haykyan, and Br. Simavon Mkrtchyan.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Immediately following the Gospel readings during the Liturgy of the Word, Fr. Anton presented the two candidates to the Archbishop. In the sanctuary, the candidates were first ordained to the minor orders\u2014Sweeper (Avelatsu), Doorkeeper (Drnapan), Reader (Entertsogh), Exorcist (Yerdmnetsutsich), and Light-bearer (Jahynkal)\u2014followed by the conferral of the Subdiaconate (Kisasarkavag or Dpir). The rites began with the Profession of Faith and interrogations, followed by the bestowing of the special gifts of the Holy Spirit and spiritually very enchanting prayers. These were accompanied by the presentation of items symbolizing the specific functions of these degrees: a broom, the Lectionary (Chashots), the Gospel, and a candlestick. These minor orders prepare an individual to receive the major holy orders of deaconate and priesthood.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In his homily, the Archbishop spoke with deep appreciation of the journey of faith, divine calling, and education undertaken by these two devoted young men, whose goal is to reach the priesthood and answer God\u2019s call. His Excellency requested the fervent prayers of the faithful community for them, while assuring that he himself keeps the two subdeacons under his paternal prayers and care so that, by God\u2019s will and guidance, they may reach priestly ordination alongside their fellow spiritual brothers, who are currently studying at various universities around the world, preparing to join the clergy of the Ordinariate.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Below are the biographical details provided by Bro. Hovhannes Manoukyan and Bro. Joe Mississian:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BRO. HOVHANNES MANOUKYAN<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I, Farid Manukyan (Br. Hovhannes), was born on December 11, 1999, in the village of Bavra, Akhalkalaki region, Georgia.<\/p>\n

I received my primary education at the secondary school in Bavra (2006\u20132016). In 2016, I moved to Armenia and entered the seminary of the Mechitarist Congregation in Yerevan, where I studied until 2018, receiving initial spiritual and basic education.<\/p>\n

From September 2018 to October 2019, I underwent preparatory training at the seminary, receiving the necessary linguistic and academic preparation to pursue further studies in Italy.<\/p>\n

On October 24, 2019, I moved to Italy to the Mother Monastery of the Mechitarist Congregation in Venice, where I continued my spiritual formation and education. During this time, I also studied at the Patriarchal Seminary of Venice (\u201cSeminario Patriarcale di Venezia\u201d, 2021\u20132022).<\/p>\n

From 2022 to 2025, I studied at the Pontifical University of Sant’ Anselmo (Pontificio Ateneo Sant\u2019Anselmo), where I earned my Bachelor\u2019s degree in Philosophy.<\/p>\n

With the blessing and consent of the Superior of Novices at the Mother Monastery, in 2024 I transferred to the Pontifical Armenian Levonian College, transitioning from the Mechitarist Congregation to the jurisdiction of the Armenian Catholic Diocese (Ordinariate) for Armenia, Georgia, Russia, and Eastern Europe.<\/p>\n

Since September 2025, I have been studying at the Faculty of Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. I am currently continuing my second-year studies, aiming to complete the full academic program in theology and continue my spiritual and pastoral formation.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Br. Hovhannes (Farid) Manoukyan<\/p>\n

Rome, July 7, 2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BR. JOE MISSISSIAN<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I was born on April 22, 2001, in Beirut, Lebanon. I attended the National Noubarian-Khrimian School in Tripoli for my primary education through 9th grade, followed by the Mont La Salle High School in Koura, and finally graduated in 2020 from Mesrobian High School (Literary Section), receiving the official Baccalaureate. I am fluent in Armenian, English, Arabic, French, and Italian.<\/p>\n

In August 2020, I was admitted to the Mechitarist Educational Complex in Yerevan. In August 2021, I transferred to the Holy Archangels United Seminary. In February 2023, I began my philosophical studies at the Gregorian University. This year, I completed my Bachelor\u2019s degree in Philosophy and began my theological studies at the Gregorian University. Out of personal interest, I also desired to take specific courses at the Angelicum University, focusing on Catholic Social Teaching and Religion & Politics.<\/p>\n

Regarding my spiritual life, I participate in all of the prayer life of the seminary. I meet with my spiritual father once a month, who assigns me readings from the Gospel and spiritual duties. During the 2023\u20132026 academic period, my duty was serving as sacristan and sports coordinator.<\/p>\n

From a young age, I attended church regularly, and I was always overjoyed to perform various altar services every week, whether as a thurifer, flabellum-bearer, or candle-bearer. My year spent at the Mont La Salle school in Koura had a profound influence on me, where I met intelligent individuals who taught religion classes and answered my questions in very inspiring ways, which encouraged me to reflect more deeply on my vocation.<\/p>\n

By God’s will, I desire to become a celibate priest.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Br. Joe Missisian<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prepared by<\/em><\/p>\n

Fr. Hovsep Galstyan<\/em><\/p>\n

Chancery of the Ordinariate of Armenian Catholics<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

August 22, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Preparation for priesthood<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":27474,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49,44,36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diosecan-news","category-featured-en","category-news-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/armenianchurchco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/armenianchurchco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/armenianchurchco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/armenianchurchco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/armenianchurchco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27490"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/armenianchurchco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27490\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27493,"href":"http:\/\/armenianchurchco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27490\/revisions\/27493"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/armenianchurchco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27474"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/armenianchurchco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/armenianchurchco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/armenianchurchco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}