Feast of the Evangelists in the Diocese of Aragatsotn


On October 18, our church celebrated the feast of the Four Evangelists. All the priests of the Aragatsotn diocese, along with the faithful of their communities, were in the St. Mariane Church in Ashtarak. The Holy Liturgy was celebrated without the diocesan Primate, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan. The Holy Father was detained for 2 months, and the diocesan secretary, Father Garegin Arsenyan, was also detained.

 

Father Vazgen Hovhannisyan


Father Vazgen Hovhannisyan has been serving at the St. Mesrop Mashtots Church in Oshakan, Aragatsotn Diocese, for about six years. Before that, he served in Yeghegnadzor, where he began to engage in cross-stitching. The church has greatly helped him in his creative life. After searching for a suitable place for cross-stitching with the diocesan Primate, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, they stopped at the area adjacent to the church, where the priest works today. The father presented the spiritual service, rights, responsibilities, and the relationship between spiritual leaders and priests.

The "Sun-Children" center has moved to a larger and more spacious building


The website zarkerak.am published an article on October 13, accusing the church of taking back the space allocated for children with Down syndrome. Moreover, the author of the unsigned article did not consider it necessary to verify what he knew from the center’s administration, presenting incomplete, false and defamatory information. The president of the “Sun-Children” Children’s Health and Development Center NGO, Father Grigor Grigoryan, assures all the so-called “heartfelt” media outlets that the center has not only not been closed, but also continues its work with greater opportunities.

Shukhonts Miracle Gospel Removed from Matenadaran on Holy Translators' Day


In the St. Mariane Church of Ashtarak, the diocesan leader, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, performed a general confession, after which the young people, led by priests, traveled to the St. Mesrop Mashtots Church of Oshakan to participate in the Liturgy. The participants of the pilgrimage were guided by police officers. Before the evening service, people had the opportunity to touch the miraculous scroll, about whose healing properties there were numerous testimonies.

 

A concert entitled "The Bells of Haghartsin" was organized at the Haghartsin Monastery Complex


At the suggestion of Arevik Beglaryan, a young composer and pianist living in Germany, a concert entitled “The Bells of Haghartsin” was organized in the refectory of the Haghartsin Monastery Complex. The pianist was born, raised, and received her musical education in Frankfurt am Main. She is a winner of competitions in Germany, has performed with the Frankfurt Philharmonic Orchestra, and at the Beethovenhaus Chamber Music Concert Hall in Bonn. In addition to the young pianist’s work dedicated to Haghartsin, gems of Armenian spiritual and classical music were also performed.

 

Aram Avetisyan


Aram Avetisyan lost both legs in 44 days. Now he moves around with prostheses. Aram is from the village of Achajur, grew up in a military family, all the men in the family - his father and four brothers - are military. After losing both legs, Aram is trying to live a full life. He and his friends modified and adapted the car for him. He can no longer serve in the military, but he works in a car workshop.

Believers celebrated the commemoration day of Saint George at the Marmarashen Church


Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, the Primate of the Diocese of Masyatsotn, blessed the faithful, asking for the saint's intercession for Armenia and the Church, which are experiencing difficult times. At the end of the liturgy, a celebration was organized in the church and a love meal was served.

The trial of Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, Primate of the Shirak Diocese, has ended


The court will make a verdict on September 24, but the advocacy group does not hope that the court will make a fair decision. Otherwise, the case would have been sent to the Shirak regional court by jurisdiction. In addition, when extending the term of detention, the court did not take into account the age of the Bishop, the fact that he is a clergyman, or his personal characteristics. Bishop Michael noted that the prosecution has not addressed why he has not been accused of calling since 2020, moreover, the prosecutor's office has not previously seen grounds to initiate criminal proceedings, why did they decide to hastily arrest him in June?

Archpriest Michael faces punishment ranging from a fine to 5 years in prison


The investigation into the case of Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, the Primate of the Shirak Diocese, has not been completed. The final hearing will continue on September 23, during which Archbishop Mikayel will make a speech. The defense lawyers believe that this case is a political order. They have petitioned to find the archbishop innocent and release him immediately.

The relic of Saint Stepanos the Proto-Deacon has been moved to the Nigavan church


On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the consecration of the Saint Stepanos Church in Nigavan, the relic of Saint Stepanos the Proto Deacon was transferred from the Mother See by the order of the Armenian Patriarch. The participants of the liturgy received communion and were granted the power emanating from the relic of Saint Stepanos the Proto Deacon.

Life after the war: Gevorg Hambardzumyan


23-year-old Gevorg Hambardzumyan, who suffered a severe brain injury, speaks with great difficulty, his hand does not work due to the brain injury, and walking has become difficult. After the war, during the rehabilitation phase, at the suggestion of a friend, he decided to continue training, but not in boxing, but in the field of para-arm wrestling. The former boxer returns to Armenia with laurels. He has more than 10 medals, which he won at the world and European para-arm wrestling championships.

Archbishop Michael stated in court that the government has been targeting him since 2018


Archbishop Michael believes that the biggest mistake of his life was made in 2018, when he welcomed Nikol Pashinyan, but when Pashinyan announced that he was becoming prime minister, he was against it. According to him, the change in the government's approach towards him began from that day. The Archbishop recalled that he spoke about the need to remove the government back in the days of the 2020 war, for six years, but not once did law enforcement officers see a criminal element in his words. He believes that this is a clear political persecution.