Members of the Brotherhood Assembly participated in a service at the Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator


The start of the Assembly was announced on June 17. Before that, the participants jointly participated in the evening service at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Mother Church in Yerevan. Later, the clergy visited the Yerablur Military Pantheon to pay tribute to the memory of the brave soldiers who gave their lives for the homeland and to pray for the repose and peace of their souls.

 

A military quiz on Bible knowledge was held at the "Young Defender of the Land" club


At the initiative of the Bible Society of Armenia and the Spiritual Leadership of the Armed Forces, a joint program “The Bible Transforms a Soldier’s Life” was held under the “All-Army Bible Knowledge Contest.” For the first time, the Young Yerkrapah Club of the Yerkrapah Volunteer Union submitted an application to participate in the annual quiz. The teams from Kotayk, Aragatsotn, and Armavir, which took the first three places, were awarded with Bibles, Bible dictionaries, and “Shushan Varden” books.

 

The newly built Church of the Holy Savior in the village of Madina, Gegharkunik Diocese, has been consecrated


After four years of construction, the newly built Church of the Holy Savior in Medina has opened its doors to the faithful. The sanctuary was consecrated by the primates of the Gegharkunik and Georgian Armenian Diocese and with the prayers of the priests of the diocese. The priests washed the pillars bearing the names of the apostles, the church's holy altar and the baptismal font with water and then with wine. They sang psalms, anointed the church with life-giving muron and recited the first Lord's Prayer together with the faithful in the consecrated prayer house.
 

An action titled "Donate Blood, Save a Life" was organized at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church


The Blood Service staff of the Yolyan Hematology and Oncology Center collected blood from donors at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Mother Church. They were welcomed at the church by the youth of the "Lusavorich" union, who coordinated the work without pay until the end of the day. There is always a need for blood donors in Armenia. One donor can save 3 lives.
 

The "Bolorov" festival was held to support the church being built in Dilijan


The festival was organized by the Dilijan Community Center, which featured painting and sculpture exhibitions, singing, dancing, and master classes. The goal of the event is to unite creative people around a common idea, support the construction of the church, and express support for Ruben Vardanyan and Armenian prisoners of war who are imprisoned in Azerbaijan.
 

Karekin II received the priests participating in the training course


The Catholicos of All Armenians received the members of the 19th group of clergy who participated in the training courses for clergy. Since 2023, about 400 clergy from the dioceses of Armenia and the Diaspora have participated in the three-week courses at the “Garegin I” Educational Center. In addition to studying and discussing current topics related to spiritual life, the clergy have had the opportunity to live a monastic life for 3 weeks, participate in liturgies, renew their vows, and be strengthened by the blessing emanating from the Mother See.
 

The 17th-century St. Hovhannes Church has been reconsecrated in the village of Lor, Sisian


The church, built in 1686, was Hamo Sahyan's favorite pilgrimage site; he often personally accompanied guests to his birthplace. According to residents, the spring called "spicy water" near the church has great power. It flows from under the church. The church was reconsecrated by Bishop Makar Hakobyan, the Primate of the Syunik Diocese.
 

The documentary film "Shushi: AMEN" by Ruben Gevorgyan and Mariam Yegoryan was screened at the AGBU Hall


The sixth film in the film series “History of the Armenian East: Artsakh” by director Ruben Grigoryan was completed after the master’s death in 2021 by his student, young filmmaker Mariam Yegoryan. The film “Shushi։ AMEN” participated in the prestigious Menshov “Pobedil Vmeste” documentary film festival, the Sretensky Orthodox Youth Festival and won two awards. The film was shown several times in Yerevan, Toronto, Los Angeles and everywhere spoke about the real owners of historical Shushi and the Armenian culture created there.

 

A concert dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was organized at the Chamber Music Hall


A concert evening titled “In Memory” was organized at the Komitas Chamber Music Hall on the occasion of the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Every year, on the eve of April 24, the State Chamber Choir of Armenia, under the direction of artistic director and principal conductor Robert Mlkeyan, pays homage to the canonized martyrs of the Armenian Genocide with a concert program. The choir performed accompanied by organ music.

 

Commemoration ceremonies of the holy martyrs of the Armenian Genocide at the Mother See


On April 24, on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide, a liturgy was celebrated in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin under the presiding authority of His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians. During the liturgy, His Holiness addressed his pontifical message to all Armenians.

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.

 

A festive liturgy was served on the occasion of Palm Sunday at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Mother Church in Yerevan


Spreading garments before Jesus symbolized confessing sins to Christ. Offering branches and twigs signifies special honors and solemnity. The olive tree was perceived as a symbol of wisdom, peace, victory, and glory. Offering olive and palm branches to Christ after raising Lazarus from the dead symbolized victory over death.