The Story of a Carpet: Initiative Members at the Mother See


At the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians received the participants of the “The Story of a Carpet” initiative, who, under the leadership of the spiritual director of the Youth Center, Father Harutyun Vardapet Kirakosyan, presented the Armenian Patriarch with a unique dragon carpet made by the students of the Youth Center in Arabkir during one academic year.
His Holiness thanked the AGBU and the participants of the initiative and conveyed his blessing and appreciation to the spiritual director of the Youth Center, the priestly class, the directors, and the educators.

 

On the occasion of Artsakh Independence Day, a Prayer for Peace was held at the Mother Cathedral


On September 2, on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Artsakh, a Prayer for Peace was held at the Mother Cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin under the leadership of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. 
A prayer was offered for the forcibly displaced Armenians of Artsakh, the release of Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku, and the hostage leaders of Artsakh, as well as the memory of the brave soldiers who died in the Artsakh wars.

Blessing Ceremony for Education Workers in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin


On August 30, on the occasion of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin by Father Virap Sargsyan. After the Liturgy, the traditional blessing ceremony for education workers took place under the presiding authority of His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians.
Ahead of the new 2026-2027 academic year, representatives of educational institutions, educators, as well as the teaching staff of the Eornekian Secondary School visited the Mother See to receive a Pontifical blessing.

The Brotherhood and Officials of the Mother See Congratulated the Patriarch of All Armenians on His 75th Birthday


On August 21, the episcopal order, priests, deacons, secular officials, and young people from the Diaspora congratulated His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, on his 75th birthday at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The Patriarch expressed his gratitude and appreciation to those present, emphasizing that both in the past and now, our spiritual and national life remains strong through the efforts of the clergy and laity.

Defrocked priest Stepan Asatryan testifies at court hearing in the case of Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan


Today, Stepan Asatryan, considered the victim, testified in the case of Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, the Primate of the Aragatsotn Diocese, at the Court of First Instance of the Aragatsotn Region. He claims that the Bishop forced him to participate in opposition rallies and not vote for Pashinyan’s team in the 2021 elections. 
The defense, however, presented at least eight cases when Asatryan was documented to be absent from the aforementioned gatherings, and no evidence proving a specific mechanism of coercion was presented in court. 
The next court hearing was scheduled for October 12, at 12:00, in open court.

Feast of the Assumption, Blessing of Grapes, at the Mother See


Today, the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God brought together thousands of believers in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, on the occasion of which a festive Liturgy was celebrated by Archbishop Haykazun Najaryan, presided over by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. 
At the end of the Liturgy, the pontifical procession moved to the Holy Trdat Open Altar, where the Armenian Patriarch performed the blessing of grapes and, addressing his people around the world, urged: “Continue to build our country with optimism.” After the ceremony, the blessed grapes were distributed to the people.

Prosecutor General Appeals Court of Appeals Decision on Archbishop Michael


Armenian Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan has filed an appeal with the Court of Cassation against the June 25 decision of the Criminal Court of Appeals regarding Archbishop Michael Ajapahyan.
The Prosecutor General disagrees with the decision and is demanding that the Court of Cassation overturn it, the Archbishop’s defense team reports.
 

His Holiness Receives Priests of the Diocese of Aragatsotn and Their Families


On August 13, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, received at the Mother See the priests of the Diocese of Aragatsotn and their families, who have suffered greatly in recent months due to the administrative surveillance of the diocesan primate, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, and the abbot, Father Karekin Arsenyan, as well as the searches and detention of the priests’ homes.
His Holiness emphasized the importance of the meeting as an opportunity to strengthen spiritual ties with the clergy, highly appreciated their unwavering dedication, and concluded by conveying his pontifical blessing, wishing them good health and a prosperous life.

 

Second Group of Diaspora Armenian Youth at the Mother See


On August 12, the Catholicos of All Armenians received the second group of Diaspora Armenian youth who arrived to participate in three-week Armenological and religious studies courses.
His Holiness blessed the young people who arrived from different countries, urged them to diligently strengthen their knowledge of the Armenian language and history and their spiritual knowledge, to become acquainted with the spiritual and cultural heritage and values ​​of the homeland, and also assured that despite the current difficulties, the Church is steadfast and unwavering in its mission.

2nd Group of Armenian Pilgrims from Massachusetts at the Mother See


On July 26, the Catholicos of All Armenians received pilgrims from the Church of the Savior in Westry, Massachusetts, USA, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, led by Father Thaddeus Barseghian.
The community was formed back in the 1890s and founded the first Armenian church in the United States, which to this day is the main center of the spiritual and national life of the local Armenians.

"One Year of Eternity": New Exhibition at Matenadaran


The exhibition "One Year of Eternity" was opened at the Mashtots Matenadaran within the framework of the 3rd International Congress of Armenian Studies, which presents unique manuscripts, ancient books, photographs and archival documents that have been handed over to the center over the past year. 
The Matenadaran funds have also been replenished with new exclusive donations, including the 17th-century "Zhoghovats" manuscript and valuable printed books.

Armenologists of the world in Yerevan: Congress of Armenian Studies in Matenadaran


The 3rd International Congress of Armenian Studies has launched at the Matenadaran named after Mashtots, which this year is dedicated to the 350th anniversary of the birth of Mkhitar Sebastatsi.
As part of the event, the agreement on the creation of a digital repository of Armenian manuscripts around the world was extended for another 2 years with the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.