Author Nelly Rafayelyan

Catholicos of All Armenians Issues Statement on Gyumri Crime

On January 16, the Monastic Council of the Mother See and bishops from Armenia, met in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, under the presidency of Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. They addressed the horrific crime that took place in Gyumri days ago, the resulting unrest of Gyumri people, as well as the troubling incidents recorded. The Catholicos of All Armenians, specifically stated in his remarks:
“Because of the inhumane crime committed in Gyumri, the entire nation is in pain and sorrow these days. It is our common expectation, that anyone related to the crime will be held responsible and prosecuted in all strictness of law”.

First House Blessing ceremony of the year held at Pontifical Residence

Right after the Candlelight Divine Liturgy, the congregation of the clergy accompany the Armenian Patriarch to Pontifical Residence. Traditionally, the first House Blessing ceremony of the year is held at the Residence of Catholicos. 

Armenian community of St. Petersburg

The azure pearl of St. Petersburg – St. Catharine Armenian Church, the Armenian Education Center of Lazaryans, the Choir functioning adjacent to the Church, the Dance Ensemble, Women Union, a foundation supporting disabled children; all these institutions make part of active hotbeds of the life of St. Petersburg Armenian community. Recently our crew returned from St. Petersburg.

Hermitage is 250 years old

Every year, on December 7 – the Feast of St. Ekaterina, the establishment day of Hermitage is celebrated. This year the Museum celebrates its 250th anniversary.

Concert in St. Petersburg dedicated to the centenary of the Armenian Genocide

The concert was held in Grand Hall of Philharmonia organized with joint efforts of the Armenian Apostolic Church Center for Arts in St. Petersburg, “Culture and Future” charity-public Foundation and International Cultural Foundation of Terteryan. Youth Symphonic Orchestra of St. Petersburg was playing conducted by Merited Artist of Russia Alexander Titov.

Avet Terterian’s Symphony No 3 in St. Petersburg Grand Philharmonic Hall

The cultural capital of Russia also celebrates the 85th birthday and 20th years of the death of renowned Armenian composer Avet Terterian. His Symphony No 3 was heard in St. Petersburg Grand Philharmonic Hall by the performance of Youth Symphonic Orchestra of Petersburg.

Outcomes of Bishop’s Synod 2014

From November 11 through 13, the Bishop’s Synod of the Armenian Apostolic Church was held at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Present at the meeting were 61 archbishops and bishops of the Armenian Church.

The Bishop’s Synod confirmed the canonization service of the Armenian Church. The canonization service of the victims of the Armenian Genocide was decided to be held on April 23, 2015 in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. April 24 was defined on the church calendar as an annual ecclesiastical remembrance day.
The Synod also discussed also the service of Baptism. The Synod accepted the uniform text for the Services of Baptism and Chrismation. The Baptism service will be uniform across all Armenian Churches and will have the same duration.

Information War

The program tells about the role of Armenian and Azeri mass media played for the 20 year long Karabakh conflict. The experts address the differences between information and propaganda and assess work practices of mass media. It is noted, that after the ceasefire the parties use mass media instead of bullets emphasizing the reasons for deficiencies in professional journalism in both countries.

The Feast of St. George the Warrior celebrated in Noragavit Church

On September 28, the Feast of St. George the Warrior, for the first time ever, with the blessing of the Patriarch of All Armenians, his right-hand type relic was brought to Noragavit community Church.

Healthcare and Armenian Apostolic Church: Conference at the Mother See

To develop the Social Doctrine of our Church, the Ecclesiastical Conceptual Affairs Office of the Mother See conducts conferences and discussions with specialists of various sectors. This two-day healthcare conference touches upon a number of issues concerning to the quality and availability of healthcare, higher medical education, reforms in the mental health sector, circulation and quality of medications, etc.