After the Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral, the Ascension Day games were played in the courtyard


An open painting lesson dedicated to the Ascension Day was held in the Mother See. Students from the Youth Center of Yerevan and Etchmiadzin gathered under the guidance of educators and spiritual ministers. Dance groups from the Youth Center, students from the circus school, dhol players, and kanon players performed at the entrance to the Mother See's Matenadaran. After the concert program, the students from the Youth Center met with His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.

The Armenian Apostolic Holy Church celebrated the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ


On the occasion of the feast, a Holy and Immortal Liturgy was served at the Mother Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ under the presiding authority of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. It is commemorated 40 days after the Feast of the Resurrection, which concludes the period of Christ’s earthly mission. The Feast of the Ascension commemorates the bodily ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven and his sitting at the right hand of the Father. The same day also commemorates the transfer of the See of the Catholicosate of All Armenians from the city of Sis to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in 1441.
 

They are trying to do everything to disrupt spiritual life: Father Aram Baghumyan


Father Aram Baghumyan, who serves in the Tavush diocese, notes that the reform of the Church takes place in the church itself, with God's providence and blessing, not in election programs. They can only support the clergy, but recent times show that they are trying to do everything to disrupt spiritual life, they are pushing the clergy out of state structures.
 

The provision regarding the church in the CC election program is the function of the Holy Spirit. Father Abel Kartashyan


Father Abel Kartashyan considers it ridiculous to imagine politicians who have taken upon themselves the function of the Holy Spirit, the reform of the church. He believes that the Armenian Apostolic Church is guided by the Holy Spirit.

 

Clergy Express Confidence in Church Regulations and Patriarchal See


The spiritual pastor of Haghartsin Monastery, Father Artak Mirzoyan, does not accept the majority of clergymen's plan to reform the Church politically. According to him, there is always reform within the church, but as clergymen, they see the reform plan differently.
 

Catholicos of All Armenians Visits Recently Renovated Malatia Youth Center


The Armenian Patriarch blessed and presented crosses to the students of the institution and spoke with them. The institution was recently renovated with the support of the Armenian General Benevolent Union, and is named after the benefactor family, Levon and Victoria Shaljian Malatia Youth Center.

 

The Bible Society of Armenia held a quiz at the Youth Center in Malatia


The knowledge test was attended by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, accompanied by the confreres of the Mother See, AGBU Central Board member, AGBU Armenia President Vazgen Yakubyan. Questionnaires and databases were compiled from the biblical stories of the Old and New Testaments, and the students of the Youth Center studied them in religion classes.

Catholicos of All Armenians Receives Newly Ordained Priests


The priests ordained on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross are currently undergoing a forty-day period of fasting and preparation in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness congratulated the priests and expressed hope that they will effectively carry out their spiritual ministry. His Holiness emphasized that the clergyman is a courageous shepherd, an exemplary figure who instills national values. The Armenian Patriarch noted that priests will encounter numerous difficulties and challenges in their pastoral service, which require strong faith, prudence and courage to overcome.

Priestly Ordination and Consecration Held at the Mother See on the Feast of Apparition of the Holy Cross


A priestly ordination and consecration ceremony was held at the Mother See under the presiding authority of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. The celebrant was Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Director of the Department of External Relations and Protocol of the Mother See. He ordained and consecrated 7 deacons serving in various church structures.

Kirants Village Holy Trinity Church Reconsecrated


Pilgrims set off from the village of Acharkut to Kirants Holy Trinity Church. The pilgrimage was led by the Prelate Vicar of the Diocese of Tavush, Father Samvel Vardapet Mkhitaryan, along with priests serving in the communities of the diocese. The church, built in 1888, was reconsecrated by Archbishop Haykazun Najaryan, a member of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. After the Divine Liturgy, the Order of the Holy Cross was performed and the four corners of the world were blessed.
 

This year, the Red Gospel was brought to the Holy Marian Church in Ashtarak


Since 2019, with the blessing of the Primate of the Aragatsotn Diocese, Bishop Proshyan, the faithful have been communicating with the power emanating from the Red Gospel on the day of the feast of St. John the Baptist. This year, the Aragatsotn Diocese issued a statement that taking the Gospel to St. John the Baptist is not realistic, since the church is actually occupied. On Red Sunday, the Red Gospel was brought to the Holy Marian Church in Ashtarak for worship by the faithful.
 

The Intercession of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide was held at the Mother See


On the occasion of the Day of Commemoration of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide, under the presiding authority of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, a Holy and Immortal Liturgy was celebrated at the Mother Cathedral of the Mother See. Later, the procession of clergy, with the relics of the Holy Martyrs, gathered at the khachkar-monument of the covenant located next to the Mother Cathedral. Under the presiding authority of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, an intercession of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide was held.