 |
Feast of the Holy Cross of Varag
On September 27, the Armenian Apostolic Church will celebrate the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varag, commemorating the miraculous appearance of the relic of the Lord’s Cross on Mount Varag—an event for which the faithful prepare through a week of fasting, prayer, and repentance. On that day, the relic of the Holy Cross will be taken from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to Nor Varagavank in the Diocese of Tavush.
|
 |
Statement: The Mother See Condemns Azerbaijan’s Policy of Armenophobia
On September 14, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin issued a statement strongly condemning the remarks denying the Armenian identity of the Gandzasar and Dadivank monastic complexes—as well as the scornful attitude displayed toward the Armenian people's spiritual and cultural heritage—by Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, during his visit to those sites.
The Mother See calls upon the international community and the authorities of the Republic of Armenia to take concrete steps to prevent the further destruction and appropriation of Artsakh’s Armenian spiritual heritage.
|
 |
Divine Liturgy for the Deceased at the Mother CathedralOn September 14—the Day of Remembrance for the Deceased following the major feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross—Divine Liturgy and a requiem service were celebrated at the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin by Fr. Grigor Minasyan (Vardapet). Before visiting the cemeteries, the faithful joined in communal prayer, seeking mercy from the Lord, the forgiveness of sins, and repose for the souls of their departed loved ones. |
 |
Pilgrimage to the Holy Cross Church in Akhtamar
On September 6, Armenian pilgrims from different countries of the world participated in the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Cross Church in Akhtamar, presided over by Archbishop Sahak Mashalyan, the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, and celebrated by Bishop Mesrop Barsamyan, the Primate of the Eastern Armenian Diocese of the United States. At the end of the Liturgy, a requiem mass and a funeral service were held.
|
 |
Statement on the worrisome phenomena in HovhannavankThe Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin strongly condemns the holding of inappropriate events and parties in Hovhannavank; this situation is a consequence of the authorities’ patronage of Stepan Asatryan, who has been defrocked. |
 |
The Exaltation of the Cross, the Last Tabernacle Feast of the YearStarting September 7, the faithful of the Armenian Apostolic Church will observe a week-long fast in preparation for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, which will be celebrated on Sunday, September 13, and is the fifth and last Tabernacle Feast of the Year, with the following day being Day of the deceased. |
 |
The Feast of the Birth of Holy Mother of GodOn September 8, all Christian churches invariably celebrate the feast of the Birth of Holy Mother of God, who according to the Bible was the child of the covenant and is considered the main intercessor of humanity before God in the Armenian Apostolic Church. |
 |
The Miraculous Gospel of Sangibaran at the Holy Shoghakat MonasteryEvery year, on the feast of St. John the Baptist and Hob the Just, Armenians who moved to Armenia from the Persian province of Periya in 1972 arrive on pilgrimage to the Holy Shoghakat Monastery in Vagharshapat, and the Miraculous Gospel of Sangibaran, proclaimed to have healing powers, is brought to the church from the Matenadaran. The festive Liturgy was served by the spiritual minister of the Holy Shoghakat Monastery, Archimandrite Gabriel Sargsyan. |
 |
Message of the Catholicos of All Armenians on the occasion of the Day of Knowledge, Writing and SchoolingOn the occasion of the Day of Knowledge, Writing and Schooling, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, sent a congratulatory message to students, educators and all workers in education, conveying to them his Patriarchal love and blessing. In the message, His Holiness wished strength and courage to those dedicated to the cause of education, enthusiasm and diligence to pupils and students, as well as asking for God's blessing and protection for our homeland and our people throughout the world. |
 |
Statement of the Supreme Spiritual Council
On August 26, a meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council, Armenian bishops and diocesan leaders was held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin under the chairmanship of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, at the end of which the participants issued a statement.
The Supreme Spiritual Council expressed deep regret over the unacceptable behavior again demonstrated by the CP faction towards the Armenian Church during the discussion of the Government Program in the National Assembly, condemning the anti-church policy of the authorities, groundless accusations and attempts to interfere in intra-church life, and reaffirming the Church’s loyalty to its spiritual and national mission.
|
 |
Statement from the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North AmericaThe Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America has issued a statement, noting that the Diocesan Council and the Primate are following the developments in Armenia with a prayerful heart and spiritual reflection. |
 |
The Armenian Diocese of Brazil Expresses Support for the Catholicos of All Armenians
The General Assembly of the Representative Council of the Armenian Diocese of Brazil of the Armenian Apostolic Church was held recently, under the direction of the Primate of the Diocese, Bishop Narek Berberian, and chaired by Andre Kissajikian.
Expressing concern about the current political and ecclesiastical situation in Armenia, the assembly members reaffirmed their support for the Catholicos of All Armenians and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, emphasizing the need to respect the autonomy and dignity of the Armenian Church.
|