Catholicos of All Armenians visited the Armenian Humanitarian Seminary of Calcutta


The first pontifical visit of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, to India was in 2008. In the years that followed, through the consistent efforts of His Holiness, the church administration was reorganized, which began the improvement of churches, church buildings, Armenian cemeteries, and their surrounding areas. Almost every year, the Catholicos of Armenia visits India and personally monitors the work of churches and church-related structures.

The feast of the Apostles St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew will be celebrated this year on November 29


The feast of the Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew is a day of renewal for Christians. By the canonical Encyclical of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, since 2015, the day of the commemoration of the Apostles has been declared the day of the feast of the Holy Geghard, the First-Present-Father of God. On that day, the pan-Christian sacredness is taken out of the treasury of Holy Etchmiadzin and a festive liturgy is served, during which the faithful receive communion with the holy relic, receiving the blessing distributed by the miracle-worker Geghard. The holy icon remains in the church until the evening service.

The reliquary of the holy relics of Skevra will be brought out on the occasion of the anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness the Patriarch


On the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the consecration and enthronement of the Catholicos of All Armenians, on Sunday, November 2, in accordance with the accepted order, during the Holy and Immortal Liturgy, a Patriarchal blessing will be performed and the reliquary of the holy relics of Skevra will be brought out to touch this greatest pan-Christian sanctity and to commune with its blessing power.

 

For the first time in Rio de Janeiro, a diocesan leader celebrated mass


The Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Brazil, Bishop Narek Berberian, celebrated the liturgy in Rio de Janeiro for the first time in his 12 years of leadership. Although the Armenian community of Rio was formed in the 1980s, there is still no Armenian church in the city. With the support of the Union of the Armenian Community of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the holy and immortal liturgy was celebrated in the Antiochian Orthodox Church. At the end of the liturgy, a water blessing ceremony was also performed and blessed water was distributed.

The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the feast of the Holy Cross of Varaga


This feast is unique to the Armenian Apostolic Church among Christian churches. The faithful prepare for the feast dedicated to the Lord's Sign with a week-long fast. The Lord's Sign is kept in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and is used during the blessing of the Holy Myron. Since 2003, by the high order of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, every year on the feast of the Holy Cross, Varaga is taken out of the sacred vault and brought to Varagavank. On that day, the prayers of hundreds of pilgrims are heard in the New Varagavank.

On September 14, the Armenian Apostolic Church will celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross


The Exaltation of the Cross, the feast of the raising of the cross, is dedicated to the historical events of the liberation of Christ from captivity by the cross. The feast is one of the four holidays dedicated to the saving cross of the Lord. It is celebrated on Sundays from September 11 to 17. The holiday is preceded by a fast. The day after the Exaltation of the Cross is the Day of All Souls, in all churches a requiem service will be held at the end of the Divine Liturgy.

 

On July 27, the Armenian Apostolic Church will celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration, Vardavar


The Feast of the Transfiguration is one of the five great feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which is prepared for by fasting. The holiday is based on the gospel story of the transfiguration of Christ on Mount Tabor and his appearance to the disciples in divine glory. On July 27, a festive liturgy will be served in all churches, the next day is the commemoration day of the deceased, another liturgy will be served, and a requiem service will be held, during which the priest will commemorate the names of the deceased before the Lord.

 

The Armenian Apostolic Church will celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration, Vardavar, on July 27


The Transfiguration is preceded by a fast. It is important to spend the fast in prayer, reading more Scripture, meditating, and attending church. The Vardavar fast this year will begin on July 21.

 

On June 8, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Feast of Pentecost


Fifty days after the feast of the Holy Resurrection, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the feast of Pentecost, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. Since 2011, by order of the Catholicos of All Armenians, the feast of Pentecost has also been declared the feast day of the Holy Apostles Church in Sevanavank. Every year on that day, the relics of the apostles are taken to the monastery. At the end of the liturgy, the Order of the Cross is performed for the steadfastness of the country and the church.

 

The Armenian Apostolic Church will celebrate the Feast of the Ascension on Thursday


The feast is based on the stories presented in the Gospels of Mark and Luke, as well as in the Acts of the Apostles, which describe how, forty days after the Resurrection, Jesus ascended the Mount of Olives with his disciples. Raising his hands to heaven, he blessed the apostles and ascended into heaven before their eyes. The resurrection of Christ testifies to the Lord's victory over death, and the ascension is the eternal presence of Christ in our lives.
 

A festive liturgy will be celebrated at the Holy Cross Church in Aparan on May 18


The church was reconsecrated about two decades ago on the feast of the Apparition of the Holy Cross, and the day has been declared a day of the sanctuary’s vow. On that day, the relic of Christ’s Cross will be transferred from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to the Holy Cross Church in Aparan. The relic will remain in the church until 6:00 p.m. The festive Liturgy begins at 10:00 a.m.
 

The 123rd Diocesan Assembly of Clergy and Deputies convened in the Eastern Diocese of the Norther America


The clergy of the diocese discussed the achievements of the past year, the difficulties of parish life and the challenges facing the homeland. The conference ended with a Divine Liturgy in the newly consecrated Church of the Holy Archangels, St. Gabriel and St. Michael. At the initiative of the Primate of the diocese, a social assistance program for 700 homeless people was included in the agenda of the meeting. The clergy and deputies prepared more than 700 food bags to be distributed to local shelters and charitable organizations.