Author Nelly Rafayelyan

Ecclesiastical life 22.08.201 Special coverage from Syria

At the night of March 21, 2014, the Armenian village Kesab situated on the Turkish-Syrian border, underwent a sudden attack. Overcome with panic, the population of Kesab left their houses to go to Latakia. Around three months later an announcement was made whereby the residents of Kesab might return their homes. What the returning citizens saw, was unexpected and a shock to them…
Karen Nazaryan, the Executive Director of Armenia Round Table Foundation, went to Syria - Kesab, Damascus, Latakia and Homs, to assess the situation and major needs on the spot and to provide assistance to the Syrian Armenians. He was accompanied by the Very Rev. Fr. Armash Nalbandian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Damascus.

Baptism of Muslim Armenians from Diarbekir in Etchmiadzin

These days, two Muslim Armenians, visiting their homeland through the program “Come Home” of the Ministry of Diaspora, applied to get baptized in Armenia and enlisted in the Christian Church. Bishop BagratGalstanyan performed baptism ceremony at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

St. Saghmosavank now with new church bells

The bell ring will from now on be heard not only in Saghmosavan village of Aragatsotn Diocese, but also along the entire picturesque canyon, where St. Gregory the Illuminator used to have a hermitage in the IV century. It’s hard to say when the bell of 800 years old Saghmosavank disappeared. Today new bells were installed in the Monastery.

Fraternal visit of Karekin II the Catholicos of All Armenians to Vatican

From May 7-9, Karekin II the Catholicos of All Armenians paid a fraternal visit to Vatican. On May 7 the Armenian Patriarch had a meeting with the Pope Francis in the Apostolic Palace Library and invited the Pontiff of the Catholic Church to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in 2015 to commemorate the 100th years of the Armenian Genocide.
Under the presidency of Pope Francis and Catholicos Karekin II, a united prayer was extended from the Redemptoris Mater Chapel, for world peace.
On May 8, the Catholicos of All Armenians visited the Armenian Embassy at the Holy See accompanied by a delegation and had meetings with a number of officials.
The Patriarch of All Armenians visited St. Peter’s Basilica accompanied by a delegation, and later on he visited the cemetaries of the Popes Hovhannes XXIII and John Paul II recently canonized by the Catholic Church.
In front of the monument of St. Gregory the Illuminator, the Armenian Patriarch, a prayer was extended.

Meeting of the Catholicos of All Armenians and the Pontiff of the Catholic Church

On May 8, Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians on his brotherly visit to Vatican, had a meeting with Pope Francis, the Pontiff of the Catholic Church, in the Apostolic Palace.
The Catholicos of All Armenians invited Pope Francis to Armenia. “We are well aware that Your Holiness, both during your years of leadership in Argentina and now as the Roman Pontiff, have expressed your clear position on the Armenian Genocide. Next year, the Armenian people in Armenia and in the Diaspora will commemorate the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. We invite our beloved brother in Christ to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in 2015”.

Popes John XXIII and John Paul II canonized

Blessed Italian popes of the Roman Catholic Church, John XXIII and John Paul II had been declared saints at St Peter’s Square. Pope Francis presided over the canonization ceremony.

Martiros Saryan

Martiros Saryan wrote about his seventy years of creative life as follows: “I am not satisfied with what I do, I strive for more creative simplicity, so that when people look at my painting, they feel as if they went outside for fresh air and they breath the joy. If the painting doesn’t excite and bring positive feelings about, then it misses what’s most important –the eternal breath of life. I seek to transfer the feeling of happiness for living”.

Patriarchal Divine Liturgy of the Holy Resurrection at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

In 2014, on the Easter Day, Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians and the celebrant of the Divine Liturgy, made an urge for peace in the presence of a number of foreign ambassadors and officials bringing their attentions on the crime against the peaceful population of Syria and Armenians in Kessab.

Full Eastern message of the Patriarch is presented.

Good Friday

Every single episode of the gospel story on crucifixion has its own sacrament. Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan interpretes those sacraments, which can serve as a unique guide for Christians.

Acolyte Yenok Gabrielyan

Yenok Gabrielyan is a resident of Byureghavan village. He experienced his first spiritual shock on Holy Friday. That day he participated in Christ’s Funeral service as convinced by his wife. “On my way to the Church I arrogantly told my friends that I was goint to a funeral. And there was no men in the church to turn the cemetery of the Lord decorated with flowers round, so I had to take it. Since that very day, I seem to bear Christ’s sweet burden on my shoulders and my sould was crossed for my worldly life”, - says Yenok the Acolyte.