Ecclesiastical Life

Ecclesiastical life 30.09.2023

The feast of St. Gevorg the Warrior in Mughni. S. Gevorg's relic was taken to the churches of Masyatsotn diocese. The feast of Gevorg the Warrior in the Church of Saint Gevorg in Noragavit. Support of Masyatsotni Diocese to forcibly displaced Artsakh residents.

Prayer for the Republic on the occasion of the Independence Day of Armenia

Message of His Holiness Karekin II, on the occasion of the Independance day: September 21, 2023

“Dear pious people, Today we have come together under these sacred arches to offer a united prayer to God for the peace of our dear Homeland Armenia and Artsakh and the safe life of our people. We welcome the thirty-second anniversary of the restoration of independent Armenian statehood in great anxieties and worries and the pain of new losses. Our thoughts are directed to Artsakh, where after prolonged intimidation, repression and a total blockade of more than nine months, Azerbaijan has resumed large-scale military operations, continuing its genocidal policy with bloody crimes. Today, our people in Artsakh are facing dire existential threats. A hundred years later, under the eyes of the civilized world, our people are once again tasting the bitterness of the genocide. The Armenian pays with his life and blood for a free and independent life and national belonging again. We refuse to believe that the right to force continues to operate in the world of the twenty-first century, we refuse to believe that world leaders cannot find ways to prevent benevolence in Artsakh. We appeal to the international structures, the heads of friendly states to implement urgent and more effective measures to stop the genocidal actions of Azerbaijan. We appeal to the authorities of our country, national structures, political and public figures to make every effort to save Artsakh Armenians from new plagues. The divisiveness in our national life, the destructive indifference, the political tendencies, the inability to unite due to social polarization will deal new blows to our nation and our native statehood. We need unity to overcome trials and rise again, faithful patriotism to ensure the security and strengthening of the state, responsibility and high consciousness to protect our national and state interests and fulfill our cherished dreams. Beloved and faithful children of Artsakh, we convey our Patriarchal blessings and prayer and express our support to the authorities of Artsakh. You are facing a heavy responsibility and, unfortunately, you bear your suffering cross alone. Our pain and sorrow are common, the bitterness and sadness of our losses and the cruel blows inflicted on our native land are in all of our hearts. At this crucial moment, may the Almighty God support you, comfort and gird you to face tribulations and difficulties, and with the mercy of the Lord, may the course of your life and that of your children be safe and secure. In this difficult situation, following the example of our ancestors who overcame the stormy times of our history, let us be armed and strengthened with hope and faith, according to the words of the psalmist. "Even if I pass through the shadows of death, I will fear no evil, for you, Lord, are with me" (Psalm 22:5). Dear people in Armenia, Artsakh and Diaspora, let's raise a prayer to the Heavenly Lord together, asking that the Almighty God pour His graces of peace on the Armenian world, keep the Armenian statehood strong and firm and in patriotism, resolute and unshakable to our people. May the Lord's love, grace and peace be with us now and always. Amen."

Ecclesiastical life 15.09.2023

The Catholicos of All Armenians received the newly appointed ambassador of France to Armenia. The construction of the separate candlelight hall of Etchmiadzin cathedral and the Catholicos tomb is nearing completion. The Holy Mother of God Church of Kurdikants settlement of Syunik Diocese was consecrated. The 2023-2024 academic year was opened at Homs National Sahakyan College. Khajak Archbishop Parsamyan presented the situation created in Artsakh today as a result of Azerbaijan's anti-Armenian policy at the 37th international meeting "For peace, dialogue and prayer" in Berlin. Pope Francis was interested in the current state of Armenia and said that he is praying for Armenia. September 17 is Khachverats feast.

Ecclesiastical life 20.11.2023

Saints Yerkotasan Arakelots Church of Constantinople was re-consecrated. The dome and walls of Saint Gevorg Church in Nor Hachn Armenian neighborhood of Beirut have been repaired. The Saint Vardan Armenian Presbyterian Church in New York is also being renovated. The patriarchs and spiritual heads of Jerusalem expressed their support to the Armenian Patriarchate and the Armenian community in their efforts to preserve the Armenian quarter of Jerusalem intact and not to endanger the historical presence of Armenians in the holy city. In the Church of the Holy Spirit in Prague, the hymns of Holy Inner Blessing were sung. The first volume of the collection of works of the famous Armenologist Babken Chugaszyan has been published.

Ecclesiastical life 17.11.2023

Members of Holy Etchmiadzin Architectural Council and philanthropist Karlen Gevorgyan were awarded high honors. The issue of preservation of the historical, cultural and spiritual heritage of Artsakh was discussed in Bucharest. The presentation of the first volume of the archive of the Holy Etchmiadzin Catholicosate Chancellory took place in the Mashtotsyan library. The International Day of Tolerance was also celebrated in the Armenian Diocese of Armenia.

Ecclesiastical life 13.11.2023

Feast of the Holy Archangels and Heavenly soldiers at the Mother See. The Catholicos of All Armenians received the residents of Yerevan boarding house No. 1. The spiritual leadership of the RA Armed Forces celebrates its 26th anniversary. Derenik Abegha Sahakyan, who was the last to be forced out of Dadivank, was celebrating a liturgy in the St. Gayane monastery. Pilgrimage day of St. gregory the Illuminator Church of Aruch.

Ecclesiastical life 06.11.2023

On the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the enthronement of the Patriarch of All Armenians Karekin II, a Public Prayer was fulfilled. The Permanent Conference of the Eastern Orthodox Churches was held in New York. Legal steps have been taken in the problematic case of the "Cow Garden" estate of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Archbishop Hovnan Terteryan, Primate of the American Armenian Western Diocese, Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan, Primate of Gugark Diocese, and Narek Avagyan, Vicar of Artik Diocese, visited Harichivank "Trbanchyan" banquet hall. In the Komitas Museum-Institute, a lecture on "Music as an uplifting phenomenon" was presented to the students of the Medical University. A tree planting was organized in the area adjacent to St. Gregory the Illuminator Mother Church.

Ecclesiastical life 03.11.2023

Sessions of the first and second days of the meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council. The Catholicos of All Armenians visited displaced Artsakh families in Tsaghkadzor. Archbishop Hovnan Terteryan's visit to the "Arev-Children" development center. Painting exhibition at Mother See: children create.

Ecclesiastical life 30.10.2023

The Patriarch of All Armenians hosted Ghazaravan nuns and village schoolchildren. Feast of the Invention of the Cross in the Holy Cross Church of Arabkir. The Feast of the Invention of the Cross in Holy Cross churches in Yerevan and Aparan. "If Dadivank was yours, where were you for 800 years?" An abbot forcibly displaced from Dadivank. The story of a violently displaced family from Artsakh, 22 people in a destroyed house.

Ecclesiastical life 27.10.2023

On October 27, 1999, the National Church Assembly elected Karekin II Nersisyan as Catholicos of All Armenians. The participants of the "Gavit" public platform of the Mother See made a statement. The publishing house of the Mkhitaryan Congregation published the prayer of St. Nerses the Graceful "I confess my faith" translated into 50 languages in one volume. In his prayer addressed to the thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis also referred to the situation in Artsakh. In the courtyard of the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Holy Spirit in Amsterdam, a khachkar ceremony dedicated to the memory of the victims of the 44-day Artsakh war took place. Recently, news about the destruction of the tombstone of St. Grigoris in Amaras was circulated in social networks and media, which was addressed by Armenian researchers. This Sunday, October 29, the Armenian Apostolic Church will celebrate the Invention of the Holy Cross. The Catholicos of All Armenians received the Foreign Minister of Hungary in the Mother See. The Orthodox Church of Cyprus provided medicine to the Mother See to help the people of Artsakh. The Patriarch of All Armenians met with the priests participating in the training course.