The Department of Spiritual Service of Penitentiary Institutions was established under the direction of His Holiness Karekin II


The Department of Spiritual Service, established in 2003, has been closely cooperating with the Ministry of Justice and the Penitentiary Department to this day. In penitentiary institutions, the spiritual minister carries out his mission in three main directions: he helps a person deprived of his liberty to reconsider his life, contributes to the strengthening of the spiritual life of the prison servant, and also provides spiritual, moral and social support to the families of those deprived of their liberty. As a result of the active activity of the structure in these years, churches, chapels have been built in penitentiary institutions, cross-stones have been installed, and spiritual corners have been created. Churches have been built in "Sevan", "Kosh" and "Artik", chapels in "Hrazdan", "Vanadzor", "Armavir", "Vardashen" penitentiary institutions.

The clergy of the Aragatsotn Diocese and pilgrims participated in the evening service at Saghmosavank


The clergy of the Aragatsotn Diocese, together with the faithful, prayed for the stability of the church, the longevity of the life of the Armenian Patriarch, for the holy saints Mkrtich, Bagrat, Michael, Arshak, benefactor Samvel Karapetyan, and for the Armenians who are illegally imprisoned and in captivity. The services, held every Thursday, are performed with the blessing of the diocesan leader, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan.
 

Criminal proceedings against Catholicos may hinder the organization of the bishops’ assembly: lawyer


Member of the Supreme Spiritual Council Gevorg Danielyan fears that the proceedings initiated by the Investigative Committee against the church for failure to execute the judicial act may put the bishops’ assembly to be convened in Austria in February under attack. His Holiness Gevorg was declared deposed on January 27, and on January 29 it became known that the Investigative Committee had initiated proceedings against the church. He considers the claim that the Supreme Spiritual Council adopted a directive specifically to allegedly hinder the judicial act to be unfounded. He argues that the church has the authority to make decisions and if there are sufficient grounds for it, on the contrary, not executing it can be problematic.

Clergy members of the Supreme Spiritual Council have been summoned for questioning as defendants


Criminal cases have been initiated against the bishops, they are accused of obstructing the execution of a judicial act. And the judicial act concerns the lawsuit of the former leader of Masyatsotn, Arman Saroyan, who was declared a canon. The court, examining his lawsuit with lightning speed, decided that in order to stop Arman Saroyan’s “mental suffering”, a measure of securing his lawsuit should be immediately applied. And the members of the Supreme Spiritual Council, who spoke in favor of the excommunication of the former bishop, obstructed the execution of the judicial act.

 

The Aragatsotn Diocese held a service for those in prison at the St. Gevorg Church in Kosh


During the service, the clergy and believers of the Aragatsotn Diocese prayed for those unjustly imprisoned, prisoners, defenders of the homeland and the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Primate of the Aragatsotn Diocese, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, is also in prison. The clergy of the diocese hold a service and pray for those in prison every Thursday.

Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, Primate of the Shirak Diocese, Released from Izmirlyan Medical Center


After 8 months of being in prison, the Court of Appeals granted the defense attorneys’ motion and imposed house arrest. Prior to that, the Archbishop had been transferred to the Izmirlyan Medical Center, where he underwent surgery. The Archbishop appealed to the European Court. According to the application, the clergyman’s rights to personal immunity and freedom of expression were violated, and the criminal prosecution was carried out for political purposes.
 

A Rest service was held at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Byuravan


The prelate of the Masyatsotn Diocese, Archimandrite Ruben Zargaryan, presented the sermon for the “Expulsion Sunday” of Great Lent, with the theme “Where are you, Adam?” The clergy and believers serving in the churches of the Masyatsotn Diocese gathered in the church. During Great Lent, joint services will be held in other churches of the Masyatsotn Diocese as well.g

 

Boris Stepanyan after the war


Boris Stepanyan is from the village of Togh in Hadrut. The war took away not only Boris' health, but also his home and place. After being seriously wounded, they had to wander from region to region, from hostel to guesthouse, and finally, with the support of a close family member, they organized a fundraiser on the social network "Facebook" and purchased an apartment in the village of Argel in the Kotayk region.

Yeghishe Tadevosyan


Yeghishe Tadevosyan is one of the most prominent Armenian painters of the 19th-20th centuries. He spent his childhood in the Mother See. After graduating from the Moscow Art School, he was appointed a teacher of painting at the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary.

Vahagn Demirchoghlyan


A student of the Gevorgyan Seminary, who is ordained a priest and serves in the Igdir church, independently achieves such successes in the field of atomic physics that amaze and amaze the greatest scientists in the field.

Archbishop Gabriel Aivazovsy


Archbishop Hovhannes Aivazovsky, being a Catholic priest, rebelled against the edict of Pope Zion of Rome concerning the Armenians, was persecuted and returned to the Armenian Apostolic Church. The skilled publicist and educator was the superintendent of the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary and played a role in improving the theological subjects taught there.

The Artsakh State Jazz Orchestra continues to operate


After many trials and hardships, the musicians of the Artsakh State Jazz Orchestra are having their first rehearsals in Armenia and preparing for a concert. Artistic director, renowned trumpeter Tigran Suchyan is convinced that regardless of the circumstances and mood, one must work.