On Independence Day, the Armenian Pontiff Visited the Yerablur Military Pantheon


On September 21, the 35th anniversary of Armenia's independence, the Catholicos of All Armenians, accompanied by the clergy, visited the Yerablur Military Pantheon to pay tribute to the memory of the sons who sacrificed their lives while defending the homeland.
A requiem service was held at the pantheon presided over by the Pontiff, and His Holiness laid flowers at the heroes' graves and at the "Call of Artsakh" memorial complex, commemorating all the martyrs of Artsakh's freedom in prayer.

Republican Prayer for the Republic and Pontifical Message on the Occasion of the 35th Anniversary of Armenia's Independence


On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of Armenia's independence, a service of Republican Prayer was held on September 21 at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, presided over by Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; during the service, the clergy and the faithful offered prayers for the steadfastness and peace of the Republic of Armenia. In his Pontifical message, His Holiness called for unity and solidarity in order to confront internal and external threats and to defend the people's right to a free and secure life.

"Save Armenia" Delegation at the Mother See


On September 18, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Catholicos of All Armenians received a delegation from the "Save Armenia" organization, led by Executive Director Dr. Paul Murray.
His Holiness addressed the imperative of protecting the rights of forcibly displaced people from Artsakh, securing the release of Armenian captives illegally held in Azerbaijan, and preserving the Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage of Artsakh.
 

His Holiness Receives Participants of the "Land of Noah" International Conference


On September 17, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Catholicos of All Armenians received the participants of the "Land of Noah: Christianity After Postmodernism" international conference, organized by the "Amrots" Foundation.
Welcoming the holding of the conference, His Holiness reflected on the vital mission of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church in the life of the Armenian people and wished the participants productive work.
 

Regular Meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council at the Mother See


From September 15 to 17, the regular meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council took place at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, presided over by Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; representatives of the Armenian Patriarchates of Constantinople and Jerusalem also participated. The attendees discussed provisions concerning the Armenian Church found in the National Assembly and the Government’s program, and the Supreme Spiritual Council deemed the authorities' policy of interfering in the Church's internal affairs and the violation of its constitutional status to be unacceptable and condemnable.

Four-Day Meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council Launches at the Mother See


On September 15, the regular four-day meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council commenced at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, presided over by Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
The agenda includes issues related to the Church's canonical and diocesan life, its statutes, the activities of spiritual-educational institutions, and the strengthening of Christian education within communities, as well as key issues concerning Church-State relations and the 23 ongoing court cases involving the Church.
 

Festive Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at the Mother Cathedral


On September 13, the festive Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross—the last of the five major feasts of the Armenian Church and the principal feast dedicated to the Holy Cross—was celebrated at the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. In his sermon, the celebrant, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, reflected on the historical origins of the Feast of the Exaltation and the life-giving power of the Cross.
In the evening, presided over by the Armenian Pontiff, the sacred relic of the Lord’s Cross—adorned with basil and flowers—was brought out of the Mother Cathedral, and the solemn ceremony of the Exaltation of the Cross and the Andastan service were performed.
 

Catholicos of All Armenians Receives Members of "L'Œuvre d'Orient"


On September 12, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Catholicos of All Armenians received members of the French humanitarian organization "L'Œuvre d'Orient," led by Bishop Hugues de Woillemont.
His Holiness highly commended the organization's 170-year history of service and the consistent support it has provided to Christian communities in the East and to the Armenian people.
 

Catholicos of All Armenians Receives Doctors from the "Luys" Association


On September 11, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Catholicos of All Armenians received a delegation led by Levon Khachatryan, President of the French "Luys" Association, comprising both Armenian and French doctors. From September 5 to 8, the association had carried out a medical-humanitarian mission in remote border villages of the Tavush region, and during the meeting, the Supreme Patriarch highly commended the doctors' noble commitment and their activities in Armenia.
 

The Story of a Carpet: Initiative Members at the Mother See


At the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians received the participants of the “The Story of a Carpet” initiative, who, under the leadership of the spiritual director of the Youth Center, Father Harutyun Vardapet Kirakosyan, presented the Armenian Patriarch with a unique dragon carpet made by the students of the Youth Center in Arabkir during one academic year.
His Holiness thanked the AGBU and the participants of the initiative and conveyed his blessing and appreciation to the spiritual director of the Youth Center, the priestly class, the directors, and the educators.

 

On the occasion of Artsakh Independence Day, a Prayer for Peace was held at the Mother Cathedral


On September 2, on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Artsakh, a Prayer for Peace was held at the Mother Cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin under the leadership of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. 
A prayer was offered for the forcibly displaced Armenians of Artsakh, the release of Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku, and the hostage leaders of Artsakh, as well as the memory of the brave soldiers who died in the Artsakh wars.

Blessing Ceremony for Education Workers in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin


On August 30, on the occasion of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin by Father Virap Sargsyan. After the Liturgy, the traditional blessing ceremony for education workers took place under the presiding authority of His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians.
Ahead of the new 2026-2027 academic year, representatives of educational institutions, educators, as well as the teaching staff of the Eornekian Secondary School visited the Mother See to receive a Pontifical blessing.