Cameraman Harutyun Tolanyan

29 years ago, Catholicos Karegin I re-consecrated the Saint Hovhannes the Baptist Church of Melikgyogh, which had been desecrated for more than 60 years. It was built in 1891 by immigrants from Alashkert. In 1935, by order of the Kurdish authorities, it ceased to function and turned into a warehouse. This year, on the occasion of the re-consecration of the church, the relic of Hovhannes the Baptist was brought to the village for the first time and a festive liturgy was offered.

The Feast of the Discovery of St. Mary’s Box has appeared in the Armenian church calendar since the 18th century. In 1774, it was included in the calendar compiled by the Catholicos Simeon of Yerevan. The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Mobile Feast on the fifth Sunday of Advent. During the year, the Armenian Church celebrates several holidays dedicated to Our Holy Mother of God.

Around 600 students from different cities and villages with their teachers and spiritual pastors raised a prayer under the arches of the Saint Mesrop Mashtots Church and asked for the intercession of the holy teachers for their future lives.

Karo Movsisyan, a 7-year-old student of the chess class of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and AGBU Nork Youth Center, took an honorable position in the Armenian chess championship for under eight-year-olds. The class has fifty chess players in different age groups. They participate in national and international competitions. There are educational and amateur groups.

On the feast dedicated to the creation of Armenian writings, a festive liturgy was held in the St. Mesrop Mashtots Church of Oshakan under the leadership of Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan. Traditionally, on this day, the already literate first graders visit the St. Mashtots Church. The clergyman urged the attendees not to forget about the victory achieved by faith, thought and writing in the 5th century.

The Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II received the members of the district council of the Holy Church of Beyoglu region, who came to Armenia from Constantinople on a pilgrimage, at the Mother See. The group of Armenian pilgrims from Constantinople spent five days in Armenia, visited various holy places, got acquainted with the spiritual and historical cultural heritage of Armenia. The Beyoğlu district of  Constantinople is one of the most influential and Armenian-rich districts in terms of ethnicity, spirituality and culture.

The first solo exhibition of the artist, architect Lusine Danielyan, dedicated to the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, was opened in the Ruben Sevak Museum. The artist created these works in a very short time, inspired by the picture book "Bright and beautiful Holy Etchmiadzin" published months ago. Holy Etchmiadzin Cathedral will be re-consecrated in September of this year. An exhibition entitled "The Mother Temple of Light" was opened with that sacrament.

With the blessing of the Catholicos of All Armenians, an offering ceremony was held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The Celebrant Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the USA, addressed questions to the priests. The deacons testified that they are steadfast in the Orthodox faith, and then promised to be disciples and followers of the holy fathers and blessed patriarchs of the church. The ordained rejected and reviled all the heretics and schismatics by name. Five of the seven donors, married, two chose the celibate priesthood.

In Hovhanavank, the Primate of Aragatsotn Diocese, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, made an order to inspect the Acolytes. 25 ministers serving in the churches of Teger, Oshakan, Aparan, Mughnu, Byurakan, Ashtarak, Hovhannavank, Talin and Kosh received the rank of Acolytes. The Acolytes degree is considered the minor degree of the church. The clerk opens the door of the church, establishes order in the prayer hall, holds a candlestick, reads the Bible.

The examinations of Armenian language and Armenian literature have been completed at Gevorgyan Seminary. On June 15, the applicants took an exam on Armenian history, and also met with the seminary's inspectorate. At the final stage of the exams, during the interview, attention is paid to the applicant's spiritual and ecclesiastical knowledge, musical abilities, communication skills and knowledge of languages. The second round of Gevorgyan Theological Seminary entrance exams is in August.