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.
 
 

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.
 

Icons of the Church of the Resurrection of Parakar Restored


Students of the Department of Restoration, Conservation and Preservation of Works of Art of the Charles Aznavour State College of Culture and Arts restored the icons of the Church of the Resurrection of Parakar. They examined the causes of damage, identified whether the changes were caused by humidity, temperature, contact, or time, and then proceeded to clean and strengthen them. The work on each canvas takes days, depending on the degree of contamination.
 

The presentation of the “Entry into Jerusalem” puzzle took place at the Zangak Library


With the joint initiative of the Museum of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the “Association for the Preservation of the Cultural Heritage of Armenia”, the illustrated wooden puzzle was placed on the display case of the “Zangak Library”. The first of these boxes with miniatures selected from the manuscript heritage of Holy Etchmiadzin was the puzzle on the theme of “Christmas” on the eve of Christmas, then “The Coming of the Lord”. The presentation of the “Entry into Jerusalem” puzzle was organized on the feast of Palm Sunday. The Director of the Museums of the Mother See, Father Asoghik Karapetyan, conveyed the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, the Patriarch of All Armenians, to the children.
 

The clergy of the Aragatsotn Diocese participated in the evening service at the St. Mesrop Mashtots Church in Oshakan


Under the chairmanship of the Chairman of the Administrative Council of the Aragatsotn Diocese, Father Shnorhk Paloyan, the clergy of the diocese, the nuns of the Ghazaravan Monastery, monks, and pilgrims jointly participated in the evening service at the St. Mesrop Mashtots Church in Oshakan. The participants of the ceremony, bowing to the tomb of St. Mesrop Mashtots, asked for the intercession of the Saint to further strengthen their faith in these days of trials. They prayed for the beloved Primate, His Eminence Mkrtich, the clergy and children of the church who are in prison, and then for the Homeland, the Holy Church, and everyone.
 

Prodigal Sunday symbolizes the return of the sinful son to the Father


A Holy and Immortal Liturgy was celebrated in the Mother Cathedral under the presiding authority of His Holiness Karekin II, the Patriarch of All Armenians. This parable, full of meaning, divine love and mercy, was presented to everyone with its many layers, prompting them to reflect on their actions and ask for forgiveness.

Judgement Sunday: Liturgy at the Mother See


This Sunday in the series of Sundays of Great Lent is called the Sunday of the Unjust Judge. The meaning of the day is summed up in the parable of the unjust judge. The fifth Sunday of the Unjust Judge is named after the parable of the unjust judge and the widow, mentioned in the 18th chapter of the Gospel of Luke, which Jesus told the people. The next Sunday, March 22, is Advent Sunday. The clergy will go to the gospel passages concerning the second coming of Christ.

Four high-ranking clergymen of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin have been summoned to the Investigative Committee


The Investigative Committee has summoned the Primate of the Diocese of Gugarts, Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan, the Primate of the Diocese of Syunik, Bishop Makar Hakobyan, the Director of the Administrative and Economic Department of the Mother See, Bishop Mushegh Babayan, and Archbishop Haykazun Najaryan to appear before the committee on charges of failing to execute the judicial act issued based on the lawsuit of the deposed Arman Saroyan. The lay members of the Supreme Spiritual Council were also questioned by the Investigative Committee in this case.

Lent involves not only a life of prayer, but also work


Hundreds of faithful and priests gathered at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin under the leadership of His Holiness Karekin II, the Patriarch of All Armenians

The requiem service for Archbishop Tatev Sargsyan was held at the St. Gayane Monastery


The requiem service for Archbishop Tatev Sargsyan, a faithful son, teacher and friend of the Mother See, was held at the St. Gayane Monastery with the participation of the Brotherhood of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Great House of Cilicia. His Eminence Haykazun, a member of the Brotherhood of the Mother See, read the condolence message of His Holiness Karekin II to the relatives of Archbishop Tatev Sargsyan, the Brotherhood of the Mother See and the Great House of Cilicia, and the faithful. The requiem service was performed by Archbishop Oshakan Choloyan, a member of the Brotherhood of the Great House of Cilicia.

The Department of Spiritual Service of Penitentiary Institutions was established under the direction of His Holiness Karekin II


The Department of Spiritual Service, established in 2003, has been closely cooperating with the Ministry of Justice and the Penitentiary Department to this day. In penitentiary institutions, the spiritual minister carries out his mission in three main directions: he helps a person deprived of his liberty to reconsider his life, contributes to the strengthening of the spiritual life of the prison servant, and also provides spiritual, moral and social support to the families of those deprived of their liberty. As a result of the active activity of the structure in these years, churches, chapels have been built in penitentiary institutions, cross-stones have been installed, and spiritual corners have been created. Churches have been built in "Sevan", "Kosh" and "Artik", chapels in "Hrazdan", "Vanadzor", "Armavir", "Vardashen" penitentiary institutions.

The chairmen of the youth unions of the Aragatsotn diocese held their first meeting of the year


Inter-community visits, joint pilgrimages, and a number of social and educational programs are planned in the near future. Under the high pontifical direction of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and with the blessing of the Primate of the Aragatsotn diocese, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, on January 31, the right-shaped relic of Sargis the Great will be transferred to the St. Sargis Church in Ushi.