After Christmas, clergy perform a house blessing ceremony


To proclaim the good news and distribute blessings, priests visit the homes of believers, bless the goods of the house and family members. According to the testimony of the evangelists, the ceremony of blessing the house was established by Jesus Christ, commanding his disciples to wish peace in that house when entering it. From the first century, the apostles visited the homes of believers to proclaim the good news of the Nativity and the Glorious Resurrection and distribute blessings. This spiritual and pious ceremony is continued by the Holy Apostolic Church to this day through the blessing of the house.

American-based national philanthropist Sargis Bedevyan has died


He assisted in the establishment of the Vazgenyan Seminary in Sevan. He sponsored the construction of a comprehensive school in Gyumri. With his philanthropy, the Mother Church of St. Gregory of Narek was built in Vanadzor, and 3 years after its consecration, the Armenian Children's Home was put into operation. The Khrimyan Museum-Gallery, located in the southwestern part of the old monastery, built by Catholicos Mkrtich Khrimyan in 1896, was renovated with the philanthropy of Sargis and Ruth Bedevyan. The Bedevyan family contributed to the renovation of the Mother Cathedral of Etchmiadzin.

The clergy performed a house blessing ceremony at the Saghmosavank monastery


Father Oshin Hayrapetyan and Father Paren Arakelyan from the Saghmosavank parish of the Aragatsotn diocese visited the home of a family forcibly displaced from Artsakh. The clergy brought the good news of the birth of Christ to a dignified working, creative, and productive family. They blessed the goods and residents of the home, told the children about the classes operating at the Saghmosavan Youth Center, as well as the Luys Children's program. 

With the blessing of His Holiness the Patriarch, the "Armenian Christmas" spiritual classical concert took place


In the "Aram Khachaturian" Concert Hall, with the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, the "Armenian Christmas" spiritual classical concert took place. The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra performed with the National Academic Choir of Armenia, sopranos Sarah Gilford and Siranush Gasparyan, mezzo-soprano Yulia Nikanorova, baritone Aram Khachaturian, and bass Hovhannes Nersisyan.

Candlelight Liturgy celebrated at St. Gregory the Illuminator Mother Church


The celebrant was Bishop Vahan Hovhannisyan, Director of the "Garegin I" Educational Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The participants of the candlelight service experienced the sacrament of the sacred ordination and partook of communion. Many awaited that moment with fasting and repentance. The faithful took the lit candles from the church altar lamp to their homes.

The year-end gathering of the youth unions of the Aragatsotn Diocese took place


With the blessing of the Diocesan Primate, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, 250 activists of the youth unions of the diocese and priests of the diocese gathered at the “Gulameryan” Armenian Youth House in Ashtarak of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The young people hosted Father Husik Smbatyan, a member of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and Secretary General of the Bible Society of Armenia. The spiritual responsible of the Youth Union, Father Paren Arakelyan, presented the programs implemented during this year and the achievements of the unions.

Ashtarak Youth Center duduk players won first place in the "World Art Games" competition


Participating in the “World Art Games” international competition held remotely in Spain, the duduk players of the Ashtarak Youth Center were awarded the honorary “First” prize. There is a duduk class at the Ashtarak Gulameryan Youth Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The education is for 5 years. The duduk class already has graduates who have been admitted to music colleges.

"Armenner" Ensemble Won the National Musical Instruments Festival in Tbilisi


The “Armenner” dhol ensemble of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the AGBU Nork Armenian Youth Center participated in the “National Musical Instruments and Singing” international festival held in Tbilisi. “Armenner” presented the composition “National Rhythms” during the festival. The dhol ensemble of the Nork Armenian Youth Center was recognized as the best in the “Most-Most-Most” nomination. The artistic director of the “Armenner” ensemble and the teacher of the dhol class is James Gasparyan.

Students of Ashtarak's Gulameryan Youth center achieve high rankings in competitions


Gevorg Nazaryan participated in the "German Hit Parade" remote competition and passed the second round. In February, he will leave for Germany. Gagik Vardanyan participated in the "Global Fest" republican art competition festival and took first place. He presented the "Sasno series" at the competition. The ethnographic song and dance class was awarded the Grand Prix at the "Mi Nova" republican competition-festival.

Certificates were presented to volunteers who participated in the Blessing of the Holy Muron and the reconsecration of the Mother Cathedral


At the Pan ACYO central office of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, Director of the Office for Ecclesiastical Conceptual Issues of the Mother See, conveyed the blessing of the Catholicos of All Armenians to the young people and appreciated their devoted service to the church. The young people participating in the meeting expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate in historical events as volunteers.

The "Narek" dance ensemble of the Nork Youth Center celebrated its 35th anniversary


At the Paronyan State Theater of Musical Comedy, the ensemble and the students of the Narek Dance School presented traditional dances, academic performances and premieres. On the occasion of the anniversary year, the Narek students presented performances by all the choreographers and directors who have directed or collaborated with the ensemble over the past 35 years.

An exhibition of the pottery class students of the Arabkir Youth Center was held


The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Armenian General Benevolent Union's Arabkir Armenian Children's Home pottery class students organized an exhibition titled "Clay Poetry: The Fusion of Soil and Soul with the Hands of Little Ones" at the "Naregatsi" Art Institute. The opening of the exhibition was performed by Nare Nigoyan, a student of the Arabkir Armenian Children's Home, a kanoon player.