The Holy Savior church of Gyumri


The Church of the Holy Savior, considered one of the symbols of Gyumri, celebrates the 150th anniversary of its construction this year. It is said that the people of Gyumri dreamed of having a church similar to the Mother Cathedral of Ai and began collecting donations for its construction in the 1850s. The church, built in 1873 with great difficulties and expectations, ceased to function in the 1930s under the coercion of the Soviet authorities, and in 1937 the Bolsheviks blew up the bell tower. The final blow to the Church of the Holy Savior was the devastating earthquake of 1988, when the church collapsed. After many years of restoration, the restoration of the Church of the Holy Savior was completed in 2024 and was reconsecrated under the auspices of the Armenian Patriarch.

Duduk player Gagik Gasparyan's concert took place at the Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona


Argentinian musician Gagik Gasparyan has been performing in various countries of the world over the past year, popularizing Armenian spiritual and folk music. During 14 performances, the musician presented the works of Nerses Shnorhali, Grigor Narekatsi, Komitas, Mkhitar Airivanetsi, and Makar Yekmalyan to foreign audiences with his duduk performances. The closing concert, accompanied by organist Roberto Ramirez, took place in the historic Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona.

Self-sacrifice -discussed by Archbishop Khazhak Parsamyan


What does self-sacrifice mean, why is it considered a virtue, is there a lack of self-sacrifice in our days? Archbishop Khazhak Parsamyan deeply analyzes the modern perceptions of self-sacrifice and the deep meanings of the phenomenon.

Gyumri's Holy Savior Church Reopens After Decades of Construction


The 150-year-old cathedral, which was destroyed by the devastating earthquake of 1988, has reopened after decades of construction and restoration work. The relic of the Savior's Cross was brought to Gyumri from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for this historic event. Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II performed the re-consecration of the restored Holy Savior Church. Ten years ago, His Holiness consecrated the crosses on the dome and bell tower of the Holy Savior Church.
 

Gyumri's Holy Saviour Church will be reconsecrated on December 7


The Holy Savior Church in Gyumri is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its construction this year. On December 5, the nave of the Holy Savior Church will be held, a church ceremony held on the occasion of the renovation. On December 7, the church will be re-consecrated under the presiding authority of the Patriarch of All Armenians. During those days, the diocese will host numerous pilgrims who will be present at the historic event of the consecration of the sacred temple.

"Menk" NGO teaches ethnographic dances


There are three ethnographic dance groups within the "Menk" educational and cultural NGO: basic, amateur, and children's. They not only master ethnographic dances, but are also well-versed in their semantics and have undertaken a mission to spread and teach our dances, from remote villages to the capital.

The ceremonies of the blessing of Holy Muron and the re-consecration of the Mother Cathedral became historic


The Catholicos of All Armenians performed a sacred ceremony of blessing of the Holy Muron in the spiritual center of all Armenians. On that and the following days, Etchmiadzin hosted thousands of people-worldly and spiritual high-ranking guests, delegations of Christian churches and inter-church structures, representatives of the Hierarchical Sees, bishops serving in the Mother See, diocesan leaders of the Armenian Church, thousands of pilgrims from different countries.
 

The Catholicos of All Armenians received inter-church delegations in the Pontifical residence


His Holiness the Patriarch received the delegations of the Christian Churches and inter-church structures that arrived at the Mother See on the occasion of the blessing of the Holy Muron and re-consecration of the Mother Cathedral. He told the attendees that the Mother See is deeply moved by their participation in these ceremonies, which are the most important in the life of the Armenian Church. His Holiness the Patriarch noted that the prayerful presence of each of them at the Mother See is encouragement and support for the children of the Armenian people and is the assurance of their sincere respect for our nation and the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church.

 

Medals were prepared on the occasion of the historic event of reconsecration of the cathedral


The highest order of honor was prepared on the occasion of the historical event of the re-consecration of the temple, under the direction of the Armenian Patriarch. For the first time, the Catholicos of All Armenians awarded these medals to benefactors at the reconsecration ceremony of the Cathedral. It was their donations that made the complete renovation and beautification of the Cathedral possible. The ladies of Barrera were also awarded with another, again newly established "Daughter of Holy Etchmiadzin" order.

 

The Catholicos of All Armenians distributed the new muron to the dioceses of Armenia and Diaspora


Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II received the primates of the Armenian and Diaspora dioceses of the Armenian Church, representatives of hierarchical sees at the Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness personally handed over the red decorated jars. According to the order of seniority, the first to receive the jars full of holy muron were the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, the representatives of the Catholicos of Antilias and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, then the diocesan leaders. In dioceses, holy oil will be distributed to priests.
 

Preparation for the Mother Cathedral re-consecration and blessing of the Holy Muron ceremonies


For the Mother Cathedral re-consecration and blessing of the Holy Muron to be held on September 28, 29, new church festive outfits are embroidered and sewn with Armenian ornaments. The works of restoration of church accessories and dishes of the Mother Cathedral are performed by the best specialists.

 

The mission of the Cathedral Choir


The choir of the Mother Cathedral, which has a rich history of decades, is preparing for the nationwide important events to be held on September 28, 29, during which the choir will take an important part. The Mother Cathedral will be re-consecrated by their singing and the ceremony of blessing of the Holy Muron will be performed.