Cameraman Gevorg Avagyan

His Holiness the Patriarch performed a house blessing ceremony at the Mother See

After the Holy Resurrection Candlelight Liturgy, the procession of clergymen accompanied the Armenian Patriarch to the Old Residency to perform the house blessing ceremony. His Holiness offered glory and thanksgiving to God for the opportunity to experience the joy and delight of the feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Christ with the faithful people. The clergy must visit the homes of the believers with the Gospel of the Resurrection and bless the goods of the house.

The Feast of the Resurrection was celebrated in the Mother Cathedral for the first time after the reconsecration

The liturgy was presided over by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. The candlelight service in the Mother Cathedral was performed by Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, the Chancellor of the Mother See. The feast of the Holy Resurrection began with the candlelight service. With the blessings of the Catholicos of All Armenians, light was distributed to those present from a candle burning in the sanctuary in the Mother Cathedral.

On Good Friday, all churches commemorated the crucifixion and death of the Lord

The clergy read from the four Gospels the episodes that describe Jesus' last hours on earth: the gospel passages of His being taken to Pilate, his crucifixion on Golgotha, His death, and the solar eclipse. The scenes of betrayal, arrest, and condemnation described in the four Gospels express the manifestations of Christ's human and divine essences: human suffering and pain, and his forgiveness of those who crucified him on the cross.

Rev. Fr. Vrtanes Baghalyan

"Akunk"'s new project: the songs and dances of "David of Sasun"

The "Akunk" ethnographic ensemble, which has a half-century history, presents songs and dances from all parts of historical Armenia. A few of the founding members have remained in the group, and it is they who pass on the decades-old traditions of Akunk to the newcomers. Currently, together with the group's artistic director, musicologist Artur Shahnazaryan, they are developing songs and dances from the epic "David of Sasun", which will soon be presented to the public.

Surgeons on the front lines

Thoracic surgeon Gevorg Voskanyan looks back on what a difficult and trying year 2020 was. Astghik MC was one of the first to open a Covid ward. The team of thoracic surgeons, working around the clock, voluntarily participated in the 44-day war.

Jrapi

Of the 311 km border between Armenia and Turkey, 72 km falls on Shirak province. Jrapi is one of 15 settlements in the province that has border status. The village was built in 1974. As a result of the construction of the Akhuryan reservoir, the villages of Nerkin and Verin Jrapi were merged and moved upstream.

A liturgy was served in the Armenian-Turkish border control zone on the Feast of Saint Gregory the Illuminator’s Commitment to the Pit

The Armenian-Turkish state border, which runs through the western part of the village of Haykadzor, is opened only three times a year, to visit the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church in Haykadzor. Through the mediation of the Shirak Diocese, under the supervision of Russian border guards, Armenian pilgrims are allowed to enter the monastery at specially designated times. Since the 1920s, the monastery has been surrounded by barbed wire, and free access to the church is prohibited.

Bagaran

The Armenian-Turkish villages are so close to each other that the Bagaran residents are forced to hear the mullah's voice several times a day. Although the border village of Bagaran has many worries and problems, houses are being built and new Armenian families are being formed.

Tigran and Albert (Jrvezh)

Young scribe Albert acsends the altar at the Holy Catholic Church in Jrvezh. His brother Tigran followed his example. Now they serve in the church with their brothers.