Cameraman Suren Ter-Grigoryan

On April 4-5, the spiritual and lay delegations headed by the President of RA Serzh Sargsyan and Karekin II Catholicos were in Vatican. The Holy See inaugurated the monument of St. Gregory of Narek proclaimed as Universal Teacher.

Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II was in Ukraine for a two day visit. The purpose of the visit was to consecrate the newly-constructed church of St. Grigor Lusavorich in the city Dnepr. 

 

From November 1, the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church started its regular session in Los Angeles, USA. Exactly a year ago, in November 2016, with blessing of His Holiness, the Supreme Spiritual Council session held at the Eastern Diocese in the US decided by declare 2018 as a the Year of Youth. The SSC members touched upon the plans, timetable and organizational issues related to the Year of Youth. 

 

The regular outgoing session of the Supreme Spiritual Council of Holy Echmiadzin was held at the Western Armenian Diocese of the US, in Burbank, from November 1 to 3. The agenda included discussion of the draft SSC Charter, a program aimed at improving the Armenian Church's administrative-organizational activities, which will be brought to life by Aso Davidian, President of the Davidian Foundation, together with McKinsey, a company with worldwide reputation.

 

On October 30, the Catholicos of All Armenians left for Mexico City for a pontifical visit. His Holiness and his delegation were accompanied by officials, high-ranking clergymen and representatives of the local Armenian community. Catholicos of All Armenians visited the Guadalupe Church, met with the Mayor of Mexico City Miguel Ángel Mancera.

 

The highest award of the Russian Academy of Languages, the “Bethlehem Gold Star”, was handed to Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.

 

The Pontifical canopy bearers of the Divine Liturgy of Holy Nativity 2018 were spiritual officers of the Armed Forces. The Godfather of Water Blessing Cross was the Minister of Defense Vigen Sargsyan. 

 

By the presidency of Catholicos of All Armenians, Pomegranate blessing ceremony on the New Year eve has become a tradition. This year too, after the thanksgiving prayer, a pomegranate blessing ceremony was held in the Mother See and all Armenian Apostolic Churches.

 

Four-day ecumenical visit to Finland by Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II still continues. The Pontiff left for Finland by the invitation of the heads of Orthodox and Evangelical-Lutheral Churches. On March 19, Catholicos had a meeting with the Armenian community, and on March 20 – with the Archbishop of Turku, Head of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland Kari Mäkinen. 

 

It’s been a few days since the Armenian Pontiff together with the members of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is in New York to hold meetings at the Eastern Diocese headquarters in New York; first with  Eastern, Western, and Canadian Dioceses of the Armenian Church of North America and the members of the Central Committee of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU). Next were the meetings with the members of the Supreme Spiritual Council. This is the first time ever that the Supreme Spiritual Council holds a meeting in the Eastern Diocese of the United States of America.