Tree planting organized in the yard of the Holy Mother of God Church in Kanaker


Members of the ARF Kanaker Zeytun community Aram Poghosyan Committee, in coordination with the clergy, organized a Sabbath cleaning and tree planting in the yard of the Surb Astvatsatsin Church in the adjacent old cemetery. A total of 7 types of fruit-bearing tree seedlings, brought from the northern regions of Armenia, will have time to grow strong by autumn.

 

Residents and clergy of the village of Nerkin Dvin celebrated the day of the consecration of their church


The Church of the Holy Resurrection was consecrated 26 years ago by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. It is one of the first churches founded after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The foundation was carried out by His Holiness Karekin I, Catholicos of blessed memory, in 1996. At that time, he called the sanctuary Holy Resurrection, referring to the newly created statehood, independence and spiritual rebirth.
 

Law enforcement officers are trying to mislead the public with fabricated conversations. Defender


The defenders in the “Holy Struggle” case stated in court that there is political persecution taking place due to the civil and public behavior of individuals, as well as the exercise of their own rights in matters of state importance. In a speech lasting about an hour, Khudoyan summarized that the court investigation will prove that the case is fabricated and is a political order.
 

Time for accountability for vandalism and its “justifications”


The Stepanakert Cathedral of St. Jacob and the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God have been destroyed. Azerbaijanis are also circulating media threats about the intention to destroy the monument “We are our mountains”. The Caucasus Muslims Board and representatives of the RA government are “justifying” the international crime, declaring it an action committed “on the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan”. Does this exempt them from responsibility? Anna Sargsyan spoke with Gor Margaryan, an analyst at the Geghard Scientific-Analytical Foundation, Associate Professor of Yerevan State University.

The grave of Artashes Gevorgyan, who shot Jemal in Tbilisi, is still unknown


Vergine Gevorgyan, the nephew of Jemal's avenger Artashes Gevorgyan, donated the personal belongings, documents, and photographs of the Gevorgyans to the Genocide Museum, but nothing of Artashes Gevorgyan's belongings has survived. In the 1930s, he was accused of robbing a collective farm and sentenced to three years in prison. In 1928, he wrote a letter to the Chairman of the Cheka and the State Department of the Armenian SSR, confessing to the murder of Jemal. Later, he was accused of preparing a terrorist act against Lavrenty Beria. Artashes Gevorgyan was shot on the night of August 14-15, 1937. The place of his death and the location of his grave are still unknown.
 

Archbishop Bagrat to remain in custody: Court extends detention


The court has decided to extend the preventive measure of Archbishop Bagrat for two months. Lawyer Tatevik Soghoyan stated that this is the authorities’ response to the mass peaceful rallies that began in 2024. Defense attorney Hovhannes Khudoyan noted that there is no data in the case that would prove the illegality of the actions of Archbishop Bagrat or the other defendants or indicate any action that could have harmed anyone. Archbishop Bagrat has been in custody for about nine months.
 

Hybrid War Against Armenia: The First Front: The Armenian Church


On April 16, the US Deputy Secretary of State will visit the Armenian Embassy in the US. According to the official statement, the parties will exchange views on the implementation of the TRIPP initiative, discuss hybrid threats, the fight against disinformation, as well as issues related to religious freedom. A few days before that, the Civil Contract party published its 2026 election program, in which a separate chapter was devoted to the Armenian Church. Experts discuss the fact that this program is not only unconstitutional, but also contrary to the interests of the Armenian people and Armenia. What is the motive for the campaign against the Armenian Church in this case, and to whom is the ruling political force accountable in this matter? Anna Sargsyan spoke with political commentator Hakob Badalyan.

Holy Etchmiadzin: Father Husik Smbatyan celebrated the liturgy on Ashkharamatraն Sunday


The second Sunday of the Holy Resurrection is called Ashkharamatraն or Green Sunday. It symbolizes the great mystery of the establishment of the Christian church, when the light of Christ's resurrection spreads throughout the world, and Christ's disciples become the bearers of that light, spreading the divine word. The people have called Ashkharamatraն Sunday Green Sunday, because during this period of spring awakening, nature blooms and turns green, as does humanity, with the hope and light brought by Christ.

 

The Ecumenical Patriarch of Antioch and All the East Arrives at the Mother See


His Holiness, Father Ignatius Ephrem II, who arrived at the invitation of the Catholicos of All Armenians, prayed for the prosperity of the Armenian Church, the well-being of the Armenian people, and the establishment of peace in the region. Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, greeted His Holiness on behalf of the confraternity of the Mother See. After the consecration ceremony, a private meeting between the Catholicos of All Armenians and the Ecumenical Patriarch of the East took place in the Cathedral.
 

On the occasion of the New Sunday, members of the youth unions of various Armenian dioceses gathered in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin


On the occasion of the New Sunday, more than 650 young people welcomed the Catholicos of All Armenians with a pontifical hymn. At the request of the members of the youth unions of the dioceses of Armenia, the clergy organized the pilgrimage to the Mother See. The Catholicos of All Armenians blessed the young people and wished that they would always be in the grace of God, be bearers of the rich heritage left by our Holy Church and the holy fathers. They had the opportunity to communicate, talk about joint programs and participate in the Holy and Immortal Liturgy of the Second Advent in the Mother Cathedral.
 
 

Orthodoxy


Today, in the Christian world, there are two large groups of Orthodox churches, which have the same origins, but were divided in the 5th century. The Armenian Apostolic Church belongs to the family of the Ancient Eastern Orthodox churches, does not belong to the family of the Orthodox churches of the Byzantine tradition, and is Orthodox in the sense of true faith. Our holy patriarchs, the fathers of our church, were called defenders of Orthodoxy, Orthodox enlighteners.

The relic of St. John the Baptist was moved to the church of Mkhchyan named after the Saint


On the Saturday following the feast of the Holy Resurrection, the Armenian Apostolic Church commemorates the beheading of St. John the Baptist. On that occasion, by the special order of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, the cross-shaped reliquary containing the relics of the Saint was moved from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to the St. John the Baptist church of Mkhchyan. The St. John the Baptist church of Mkhchyan was reconsecrated on this feast day and the day was declared a day of the church’s vow. On that occasion, the family of Argam Abrahamyan, the benefactor of the church’s renovation, organized a feast of sacrifice.