The Sacrament of Ordination in the Armenian Apostolic Church
The Sacrament of Ordination occupies a central place in the life and structure of the Armenian Apostolic Church, as it is through this mystery that individuals are set apart for sacred service and receive the grace necessary to serve God’s people. Ordination is not simply an ecclesiastical appointment; it is a sacramental act by which the Holy Spirit imparts divine authority, spiritual strength, and sanctifying grace to those called to minister within the Church.
At its essence, ordination is administered to those who, having renounced worldly pursuits, dedicate themselves fully to the service of the Church as ministers of the Gospel and proclaimers of the message of salvation. This calling is not understood as purely human initiative but as a response to divine vocation, confirmed by inner conviction and spiritual dedication. When such a candidate is ordained, he receives the anointing of the Holy Spirit and is endowed with the heavenly gifts necessary for his ministry.
Election and Ecclesial Discernment
In the Armenian tradition, the path to ordination includes both divine calling and communal discernment. Candidates are typically elected through the participation of the faithful and then presented to the diocesan bishop. The bishop alone holds the authority to ordain clergy; neither priests nor celibate priests (Vartabeds) may confer ordination.
However, episcopal authority is exercised within the bounds of the Church’s communal life. A bishop may refuse ordination if, after careful examination, the candidate is deemed unworthy of the sacred responsibility. Thus, ordination reflects a balance between the voice of the Church and episcopal discernment.
The Structure of Ecclesiastical Ranks
Before reaching the priesthood, candidates progress through a structured formation within the Church. This includes six minor stages of service: porter, sweeper, acolyte, reader, exorcist (historically), and deacon. In contemporary practice, the minor orders are often grouped under the broader designation of tbir (clerk or chorister), which includes four principal functions
After completing these minor orders, a candidate may advance to the sub-diaconate, a transitional stage preparing for full deaconal service. The sub-deacon may, in certain circumstances, marry, whereas the deacon—especially one preparing for the celibate priesthood—does not.
The diaconate itself is divided into sub-deacon and deacon, with the deacon serving as an assistant to the bishop and priest during liturgical services, including singing, censing, and presenting the Eucharistic gifts at the altar. Historically, the diaconate was the first ecclesiastical order established by the Apostles to assist in the practical and liturgical needs of the early Church (cf. Acts 6:1–7).
Major Orders: Deacon, Priest, and Bishop
The ordained ministry of the Church is traditionally structured in three major orders: deacon, priest, and bishop.
Deacons assist in the liturgical and administrative life of the Church, continuing the apostolic model of service.
Priests serve as shepherds of local communities, administering the sacraments, preaching the Gospel, and guiding the faithful under the authority of the bishop.
Bishops are the successors of the Apostles, entrusted with governing dioceses, preserving doctrine, and ordaining clergy.
The Rite of Ordination
The Sacrament of Ordination is always performed by a bishop, and the essential act common to all ordinations is the laying on of hands (tzernatroutiun). Through this gesture, the apostolic succession—originating with the Apostles and transmitted through the episcopate—is maintained without interruption.
During the ordination of priests, the bishop places his hand upon the candidate’s head and anoints him with Holy Chrism (Muron). This occurs within the Divine Liturgy, emphasizing that ordination is not a private act but a liturgical and ecclesial event. The faithful participate in the discernment of worthiness through the liturgical acclamation “He is worthy,” voiced by the choir.
For ordinations below the episcopal level, one bishop is sufficient. However, the consecration of a bishop requires the participation of the Catholicos, assisted by at least two other bishops, in accordance with canonical tradition.
The Episcopal and Higher Ranks
Within the hierarchy, bishops may receive honorary or functional titles. The title of Archbishop is often granted as a recognition of distinguished service or position, while not requiring a separate sacramental ordination. Similarly, Archpriest (Avak Kahana) is an honorary designation given to priests who have demonstrated long and faithful service.
Above the episcopate stand the Patriarchs and the Catholicos. Patriarchs preside over historically significant sees such as Jerusalem and Constantinople, exercising administrative autonomy within their jurisdictions.
Monastic and Scholarly Dimensions of Ordained Life
Following ordination, a priest may choose different paths of service. A priest who embraces celibacy becomes a monk (Apegha), dedicating his entire life to spiritual discipline and wearing the veghar, a symbolic head covering representing renunciation of worldly life.
A monk who completes advanced theological education and defends a written thesis may be elevated to the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet), equivalent to a teacher or doctor of the Church. Further academic distinction leads to Senior Archimandrite (Dzayrakoun Vardapet), a rank comparable to a Doctor of Divinity, awarded for exceptional contributions in theology and scriptural scholarship.
Ecclesiology and the Ministry of Grace
The Church is understood as a divinely organized body composed of all baptized believers united in faith, sacraments, and ecclesiastical authority. Within this structure, ordained clergy are entrusted with the mission of teaching, sanctifying, and governing the faithful. This authority is not merely institutional but sacramental in origin, conferred through ordination itself.
Through this sacrament, the Holy Spirit grants the ordained the grace necessary to fulfill their ministry. This grace enables them to serve the Church faithfully, administer the sacraments, and guide the faithful toward salvation. While all baptized Christians share in the royal priesthood of the faithful, the sacrament of Holy Orders confers a distinct ministerial priesthood with specific responsibilities and authority.
Apostolic Continuity
The foundation of ordination lies in apostolic continuity. From the earliest days of the Church, the Apostles appointed deacons, elders (priests), and overseers (bishops) to continue their mission. This structure, rooted in Christ’s own commissioning of the Apostles, remains unbroken in the Armenian Apostolic Church today through the sacramental act of ordination.
Thus, ordination is not merely an institutional requirement but a living continuation of apostolic ministry, ensuring that the Church remains faithful to its divine calling across generations.
