On September 15, the Armenian Apostolic Church will celebrate the last large holiday of this year, the Exaltation of the Holy CrossOn that day, a festive liturgy will be served in all churches. Exaltation is one of the most important feasts dedicated to the saving cross of the Lord, celebrated between September 11-17. Exaltation is dedicated to the commemoration of the historical events of freeing Christ's cross from captivity. In the seventh century, the Persian army, reaching Jerusalem, St. Astvasteppet was captured from the Resurrection Cathedral. About twenty years after that incident, the Byzantine army freed the khamirite from captivity and carried it in a ceremonial procession to the Armenian city of Karin, Constantinople, and then to Jerusalem. Traditional Christian churches have established the feasts of the cross to commemorate these events. |
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The relic of St. Blaise Bishop of Sebasta was presented to the Mother SeeThe Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II received Swiss-Armenian businessman and philanthropist Vahe Gabrash at the Holy Etchmiadzin. The benefactor donated to the Mother See the relic of the pan-Christian Saint Blaise Bishop Sebasta, dating back to the III-IV centuries. It has been entrusted to the custody of the Mother See Treasury, where visiting religious pilgrims will have the opportunity to share in the blessing radiating from the saint's relics. |
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The Catholicos of All Armenians received the young pilgrims of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America
His Holiness Karekin II commanded the young people to keep their national identity and loyalty to national values intact and to be actively involved in the national-church life. There are 24 members of the senior group of Church-loving Youth Unions of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America who came to Armenia to participate in the volunteer program. Their goal is to share the historical, cultural and spiritual heritage of the motherland.
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The Catholicos of All Armenians received the participants of the AGBU "Andranik" scout camping program
The Catholicos of All Armenians highly appreciated the efforts of the AGBU Central Board for the patriotic mission, the support shown to the Mother See and the worldwide dioceses of the Armenian Church, for the implementation of various educational and cultural programs. About 138 scouts from Syria, Iran, Iraq and Armenia participate in the "Andranik" scout camping. The camp has been operating since 2007 in the Tej Ler area of Lermontovo. After the covid, the camp did not work for 4 years and it was reopened only this year.
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The Armenian Church will celebrate the Transfiguration of our Lord (Vardavar) on July 7
The basis of the Feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, Vardavar, is the Gospel story about the transfiguration of Christ on Mount Tabor and appearing to the disciples in divine glory. In all churches, a festive liturgy will be offered this Sunday, and a liturgy for the memory of the dead will also be offered the next day. A liturgy will be offered for the memory of the deceased, a memorial service will be held, during which the priest will mention the names of the deceased before the Lord.
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Araratian Week was filled with church celebrations
On Monday, the church celebrated the feast of the St. Hripsime and her companions, which heralded the beginning of the Araratian week. On May 28, the church celebrated the commemoration of St. Gayane and her companions. The Armenian Patriarch, accompanied by a procession of clergymen, took the relic of the Saint to distribute blessings to the faithful. On May 30, the day of commemoration of Hovhannes the Baptist and Bishop Athanagine, with the blessing of the Catholicos of All Armenians, from the Mother See, the relics of the saints were brought to St. Shogakat Monastery. This year, the commemoration day of Saint Gregory the Illuminator's coming out of Pit was celebrated on June 1. The relics of the saint were brought to the Khor Virap monastery complex and a festive liturgy was held.
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All dioceses have condemned the police action at the Sardarapat memorial complex
Primates of the hierarchical sees, dioceses, and patriarchal delegations of the Armenian Apostolic Church condemned the disrespectful behavior of the police towards the Armenian Patriarch and the clergy during their visit to the Sardarapat memorial complex, the bans on entering the memorial complex and the violent actions.
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On May 27, the Araratian week celebration will launch with the Feast of Saint Hripsime and her Companions
According to tradition, on that day, accompanied by clergy and faithful, the sacred relics of St. Hripsime will be moved to St. Hripsime monastery complex. A festive liturgy will be offered, in which believers who come from different places to seek the saint's intercession will participate. The following day, on May 28, the Holy Right relic of St. Gayane will be taken to the At. Gayane monastery, where a Liturgy will be offered.
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On April 28, the Armenian Apostolic Church will celebrate the feast of the Appearance of the Holy Cross
At 10 o'clock in the morning, on the occasion of the Feast of the Appearance of the Holy Cross, the relic of Jesus Christ will be brought from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to the Holy Cross Church of Arabkir of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese. The feast of the Appearance is the pilgrimage day of the Holy Cross Church of Arabkir. At 11 o'clock a festive Divine Liturgy will be served. The relic will remain in the church until 5 pm.
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Shurishkan Gospel will be brought to the Church of Saint Gevorg in Mughni
On April 7, on the Day of the New Sunday, Shurishkan's miraclous Gospel will be brought from Mashtots Matenadaran to Saint Gevorg Church in Mughni. People will visit Mughni on pilgrimage to participate in the Holy Liturgy and be touched by the powerful Gospel. Shurishkan's Gospel was written more than 500 years ago in Aspisnak village of Kajberunik province
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The Armenian Apostolic Church will celebrate the New Sunday
The Sunday following the Miraculous Resurrection of the Lord is called New Sunday, which has the sacrament of the renewal of human life. On that day, during the liturgy, the appearances of the Lord to his disciples are mentioned. In the West, this Sunday is called White Sunday, symbolizing spiritual purification by communion, and the Catholic Church calls it Thomas Sunday, due to a well-known evangelical story.
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Holy Week: the commemoration of the last days of Christ's life, has begun
The parable of the 10 virgins will be mentioned during the service on Holy Tuesday evening. Great Thursday is the commemoration of the Confirmation of the Eucharistic sacrament. A washing of the feet ceremony will also take place on Great Thursday. After the evening service on the same day, the Eclipse procedure will be performed. Good Friday is the commemoration of the Passion, Crucifixion, Death and Burial of Jesus Christ. On Holy Saturday, after the evening service, a candlelight service will be offered, and the message of Christ's Resurrection will be heard. On Sunday, March 31, the Patriarchal Liturgy of the Feast of the Holy Resurrection will be celebrated in the Mother Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator of Yerevan.
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