The Armenian Diocese of Georgia held a traditional Musa Ler harissa festival on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross


The festival was organized with the support of the head of the diocese and at the initiative of the “Shushanik” Union of Armenian Women of Georgia. The harissa was prepared by members of the Church-loving Women and the A.G.U.P.E.S Tbilisi” public organization. The harissa festival has been held in the Tbilisi Armenian community since 2012, expanding year by year, turning into a folk festival.

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Vatican, where he will meet with the Pope


The Catholicos of All Armenians left for the Vatican accompanied by Bishop Daniel Findegian, head of the postgraduate department of the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary, Archbishop Garegin Hambardzumian, director of the Department of Inter-Church Relations of the Mother See, Father Yesayi Grigoryan, the cross- bearer of His Holiness the Patriarch, and the director of the Catholicosate Office, Senior Priest Vahram Melikian.

The relic of the cross of Christ has been moved from the Mother See to the Holy Cross Church in Hrazdan


The feast of the Exaltation of the Cross marks the day of the vow of the Holy Cross Church in Hrazdan, because in 2013, it was reconsecrated on the very day of the feast. The Holy Cross was built in the 19th century. It was consecrated in 1922, after which it was reopened in the 90s. The already dilapidated structure could not serve the faithful, and with the efforts of benefactors it was renovated and reconsecrated. On the occasion of the vow day and the anniversary of the reconsecration, the living relic of the Cross of Christ was transferred from the Mother See to the church.

An eventful week in one breath


Altar servers of parishes in the Flemish-speaking region of Holland and Belgium have been trained
An exhibition dedicated to the Armenian tangible and intangible cultural heritage included in the UNESCO lists has opened in Crete
At the invitation of Archbishop Yeznik, members of the Armenian community in Heraklion met with Ambassador Tigran Mkrtchyan
 

Farewell to novelist and editor-in-chief of the Marmara daily Robert Hatechyan in Constantinople


The funeral of the famous editor-in-chief took place in the Holy Trinity Church in the Beyoglu district. A national funeral service was held under the direction of the Patriarch of Constantinople. Robert Hatechian's remains were transferred to the Şişli National Cemetery and buried in the family tomb. Robert Hatechian was one of the prominent figures of the Armenian press in Istanbul. From 1967 until his death, he was the editor of the "Marmara" daily newspaper, a publicist whose words and opinions were influential in the Armenian community.

A Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Holy Cross Church in Akhtamar


For the 13th year, on the Sunday before the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, a Liturgy is celebrated at the Holy Cross Church in Akhtamar, attended by pilgrims from all over the world. This year, the celebrant was Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in the United Kingdom. Pilgrims from the Armenian community of Great Britain, led by Bishop Hovakim, set out on a pilgrimage to renew their faith, historical memory, and community ties. The pilgrimage started in Istanbul after receiving the blessing of the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople.

Catholicos of All Armenians Receives Pilgrims from the Eastern Diocese of the North America


The Armenian Patriarch reflected on the patriotic and church-loving life of the community, prayerfully remembering the devoted founders of the St. Vardanants Church and the community, who, having survived the Hamidian massacres, rebuilt their national life in the United States with strong faith and patriotic spirit, and united around the Church to preserve their identity. His Holiness urged the pilgrims to return to their community strengthened in faith and to maintain a strong connection with their homeland and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
 

Catholicos of All Armenians received the participants of the conference


The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin hosted a meeting between His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and participants of the inter-church conference entitled “Living the Faith Today.” His Holiness welcomed the clergy who came to Armenia for the conference commemorating the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. They are representatives of Christian denominations who have come together to speak together about the first Christian ecumenical council and the key issues of the modern world. His Holiness considered the gathering of representatives of sister churches to be important.

 

The opening ceremony of the Ecumenical Council took place at the Mother See


An inter-church conference entitled “Living the Faith Today” has begun in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, dedicated to the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, greeted the clergy during the Echmiadzin meeting. His Holiness emphasized that the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea was of decisive importance not only for the preservation of the Orthodox faith of the Holy Church of Christ, but also for the greater effectiveness of the mission of the Church.

A conference will be held at the Mother See on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea


From September 3 to 7, a conference dedicated to the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea will be held at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The Council of Nicaea took place two and a half decades after Christianity was declared the state religion in Armenia and became a turning point in the history of the universal church. Under the direction of His Holiness Karekin II, Patriarch of All Armenians, the conference is organized by the Department of Inter-Church Relations of Holy Etchmiadzin.

Annual gathering of Armenian teachers held in the US


The 14th annual teachers' gathering was held at the headquarters of the Armenian Western Diocese of North America. The diocesan Primate, Archbishop Hovnan Terterian, conveyed his fatherly blessing and message to those present. The Primate called on Armenian educators in the Diaspora to remain at the forefront of preserving the Armenian identity. This year, more than 100 educators participated in the teachers' seminar, 60 of whom joined online from Canada, India, Europe, Armenia, and Russia.

 

Young pilgrims from Argentina visited the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin


The graduates of the St. Gregory the Illuminator Secondary School and the Vincente Lopez National Derdzakian Secondary School of the Armenian Diocese of Argentina visited the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The young people were received in the Old Residency of the Mother See by Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Director of the Protocol Department of Holy Etchmiadzin, Chairman of the Monastic Council. The Archbishop conveyed the greetings and good wishes of the Patriarch of All Armenians to the young people visiting their homeland. There are also foreign students in the group of about thirty people. There are 7 Armenian schools in Buenos Aires, each with up to 300 students. Argentines also often choose Armenian schools.