On December 23, 2017, the eve of the Feast Day of St. Stephen the Proto-Deacon and First Martyr of the Church; under the presidency of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan; the service of ordination for the minor orders of a clerk (tbir) was offered at the Surb Khach (Holy Cross) Church in Akhalkalaki ( Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia).

The priests, serving in the Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, had previously presented candidates to the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia: Rev.Father Tatev Marukyan, Pastor of Akhalkalaki and nearby village - 5 young people; Pastor of the Arakova village of Akhalkalaki region and nearby communities, Rev. Father Tadeos Ter Mkrtchyan - 1 teenager; Pastor of the Surb Khach (Holy Cross ) Church in the Damala village of Aspindza region, Rev. Father Yeghia Tazayan - 3 young people; Pastor of the Tsughruti village of Akhaltsikhe region and nearby villages, Rev. Father Torgom Vardanyan – 1 teenager.

Following the Evening Service, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia and the priests offered the service of ordination for the minor orders. The candidates, according to the rules of the Church, were granted the rank of clerk (tbir), typically, the four minor

orders of doorkeeper, reader, exorcist, and candle - bearer are conferred at one time and the candidate becomes a clerk (tbir).

The Diocesan Primate cut the hair of the candidates in the form of a cross, than they were given a broom to clean the church, a key to open the church doors, a candle to light church lamps, the New Testament to preach the Word of God, the Book of Psalms to read prayers for healing, the Mashdotz (“Book of Rituals”) to prepare people for baptism, a glass to assist the celebrant during a Divine Liturgy - prepare the wafer for the Holy Eucharist and fill the cruet with wine. The clerks were granted permission to wear the cassock during the church services, to sing hymns and psalms, to maintain order in the church.

During the service, the priests read psalms, sang hymns, and the Diocesan Primate said special prayers.

At the conclusion of the service, the Bishop congratulated the Pastors on their contribution, transmitted his blessing to Very Rev. Fr. Babken Salbiyan, the former Prelate of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia; for preparing the candidates during the years of service. Bishop Vazgen also offered his blessing to the parents for guiding their children to live according to God’s word. The Diocesan Primate exhorted the newly ordained clerks to continue to offer their church-dedicated service, to actively serve people with enthusiasm, to meet the expectations of their pastors, parents and people.

The Primate highly appreciated Deacon Gevork Antonyan’s service, who had properly organized the service of ordination for the minor orders.

Nair Melikyan, Arsen Sekhlyan, Karen Alvertyan, Nahapet Akojyan, Hovhannes Saharyan from the Surb Khach (Holy Cross) Church in Akhalkalaki; Grigor Ter-Mkrtchyan from Saint Gevorg Church in Arakova; Avetis Petrosyan from the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church in Akhaltsikhe; Hayk Makaryan, Vanik Khachaturyan, Lyovik Galstyan from the Surb Khach (Holy Cross) Church in the Damala village of Aspindza region; were granted the rank of clerk (tbir).

Following the service, the Headquarters of the Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia hosted a reception.