ALTAR SERVERS
The Altar Servers play an important part during the worship service in assisting the priest. The Altar Server has to be an individual who is motivated by his faith, enabling him to give of himself in the service of others. It requires dedication and a great deal of learning to acquaint himself with the various services and his part in the performance of the services. We at St. Mary Armenian Church have been fortunate over the years to have such dedicated and committed individuals in the service of our church.
In the early history of St. Mary Armenian Church the duties of deacon were performed by Deacon Dickran Parounag, Deacon Levon Manigian, Haroutiune Ourganian, Haroutine Dirhemjian, and Hagop Zadigian.
On March 7, 1976 His Eminence, The Primate Archbishop Torkom Manoogian celebrated Soorp Badarak assisted by Very Rev. Fr. Houssig Bagdasian. During the Soorp Badarak he ordained Vartan Abdo as Deacon and conferred on the altar servers the following church degrees: Sub-Deacons - Hagop Bozian and Roy Stepanian; Stole-Bearers - Glen Dalakian, John Nersesian, Ron Nersesian, Robert Nicolian, Vasgen Shamamian, Richard Sirabian and Jeffrey Tevanian; Tbirs - Vahe Baboomian, Richard Badishkanian, Roy Morchian, and Gary Takvorian.
On December 16, 1979 we were once again inspired by a visit from His Eminence, The Primate, Archbishop Torkom Manoogian. Assisted by Very Rev. Fr. Houssig Bagdasian, he celebrated Soorp Badarak. At that time, he ordained Hagop Bozian and Roy Stepanian as Deacons and conferred church degrees on the following: Stole Bearers - Richard Badishkanian, Vahe Baboomian, Roy Morchian, and Gary Takvorian; Tbirs - Andrea Badishkanian, Gregory Badishkanian, Armen Baboomian, Shahe Manoukian and Michael Takvorian.
The Very Rev. Fr. Houssig Bagdasian has successfully instilled a high level of enthusiasm and faithfulness in the Altar Servers to expand their knowledge of the Divine Liturgy.
During the 1980s Leon Ariyan, Gregory Bard, Viken Manoukian, Paul Marashlian, Scott Nakashian, John Terzian and Gregory Toufayan were ordained as Tbirs by the Primate.
On Nov. 10, 1984, the “Father of St. Mary” Patriarch Shnork Kaloustian visited our parish and during a special service, with permission from the Primate Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, he bestowed upon Martin Dalakian the honor of Stole Bearer.
On August 30, 1992, we were visited by our Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian. As one of Bishop Houssig’s final Badarak with us, the Primate ordained Martin Dalakian, Glen Dalakian and Dr. Kevork Cileli as Deacons, and Richard Pelaez, Jonathan Caterina, Jeffrey Caterina as Tbirs.
On June 13, 1999, the Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian ordained 13 Tbirs, among them Gregory Dalakian, Matthew Dalakian, Kevin Burke, Kerri Burke and Jonathan Pelaez.
On October 14, 2001, on the occasion of our 75th anniversary, the Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian visited us and ordained Gregory Dalakian as Sub Deacon.
On October, 2002, the Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian ordained Marcus Dalakian, Nick Souin and Craig Schillizzi as Tbirs.
On May 23, 2004, the Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian ordained Matthew Dalakian as Sub Deacon, and Alan Chadrjian, Erik Chamberjian, Matthew Krikorian, Julie Hoplamazian as Tbirs.
On December 2, 2006, the Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian ordained Jonathan Pelaez and Nick Souin as Sub Deacon, and Alex Dadourian, Aram Barmakian, Harrison Zoraian, Michael Krolian, Johnny Kosko as Tbirs.
On September, 2010, the Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian ordained Marcus Dalakian as Sub Deacon, and Matthew Barmakian, Charles Marashlian as Tbirs.
On August 17, 2014, the Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian ordained Matthew Dalakian as Deacon, and Eddie Istanbul, Joseph Casali, Christopher Kapoian and Bedros Maldjian as Tbirs.
On December 1, 2019, the Primate Bishop Daniel Findikyan ordained Eddie Istanbul, Joseph Casali and Bedros Maldjian as Sub Deacons.
On May 17, 2026, on the occasion of our 100th anniversary, the Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan ordained Robert Sarkisyan as Sub Deacon, Mihran Maldjian, Armen Hallajian, Hagop Dishoyan, Hrach Hovhannisyan, and Vincent Diacheysn as Tbirs.
Over the many years, our Altar Servers have always been very dedicated to their service to God. Not only during Sunday Worship but you will also see them serving at Weddings, Baptisms and Funerals as well as special services during Lent and Holy Week. It is very rare that you will see the priest conducting a service without the assistance of an Altar Server. Even during the Covid Pandemic, once we received permission from the Diocese to have Badarak, we saw Deacon Matthew Dalakian and Sub Deacon Marcus Dalakian assisting Der Arakel during the Badarak until others were allowed to attend.
May God bless our Altar Servers for their continued dedication to the Lord and to St. Mary.
