On 12th March 2023, 2nd Sunday of Lent, the commemoration day of St Gregory Palamas the Archbishop of Thessalonica, Metropolitan Leonid of Klin, Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, temporary administrator of the Diocese of Yerevan and Armenia, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Protecting Veil of the Most Holy Theotokos in Yerevan.
Concelebrating with His Eminence were the diocesan clergymen, namely Archpriest Arseny Grigoryants, dean of the Yerevan district, rector of the Church of the Protecting Veil in Yerevan; Archpriest Vladimir Glazachev; Priest Andrei Galoyan; Hieromonk David (Abramyan); Hieromonk Galaktion (Janjughazyan); Priest Timofei Kazaryan, assistant to the commander of the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri who takes pastoral care of believers among the servicemen; and Deacon Nikon Garanyan.
Among those who attended the divine service was Mr Sergei Kopyrkin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Armenia.
After the Liturgy Father Arseny presented Metropolitan Leonid with a memorable gift and expressed gratitude and appreciation to the archpastor on behalf of the clergy and Orthodox Christians in Armenia.
His Eminence delivered an archpastoral homily.
Later that day, at the Holy Dormition Church in Yerevan, Metropolitan Leonid tonsured Rassofore Nun Agniya who was named Eudokia after the Holy Monastic Martyr Eudokia of Heliopolis.
Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa
Photo: Vaginak Ghazaryan
