Holy and Immortal Liturgy was celebrated in the Mother Cathedral under the presiding authority of the Catholicos of All Armenians


The mystery of Advent Sunday was presented in his sermon by Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan. The 6th Sunday of Great Lent is called Advent and reminds the believer of the second coming of Christ. Christ calls his second coming the “Last Day,” “the Day of Judgment,” “the Day of Coming,” “the Day of God’s Wrath.” During the first coming, the Son of God underwent crucifixion and death, but the second coming, according to the Gospel testimonies, will come with awesome power and great glory.

 

The dioceses of Masyatsotn and Aragatsotn offered a united prayer at the St. George Church in Mughni


Under the leadership of the Vicar of the Diocese of Masyatsotn, Archimandrite Ruben Zargaryan, and the Chairman of the Administrative Council of the Diocese of Aragatsotn, Father Shnorhk Paloyan, the clergy of the Diocese of Masyatsotn and Aragatsotn offered a joint prayer at the St. Gevorg Church in Mughni. During the joint service, Father Shnorhk Paloyan emphasized that the meaning of this Sunday of Great Lent is to strive for spiritual perfection and to be renewed through repentance.

Wrestler Suren Aghajanyan, a student of the Youth Center of Echmiadzin, became the European champion


Aghajanyan, who represented Armenia at the European Under-23 Championships in Serbia, defeated Georgian Georgi Kochalidze in the 60 kg final in 2 minutes and earned a gold medal. This victory is notable for the fact that Suren won all his fights before the allotted time. Before reaching the final, the Armenian wrestler eliminated representatives from France, Poland and Denmark.

Archbishop Michael's house arrest continues


Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, the head of the Shirak Diocese, can attend Sunday Liturgies and receive communion, but cannot celebrate Liturgies or preach. The defense filed a motion to change or lift the preventive measure, but the Criminal Court of Appeal did not change the house arrest. Archbishop Mikayel appealed to the European Court of Human Rights regarding the violation of his rights, presenting facts of illegal detention, violation of freedom of expression, and criminal prosecution for political purposes.

An exhibition dedicated to architect Artak Ghulyan has opened


An exhibition titled “Our Grateful Ones: Artak Ghulyan the Builder, Scientist, Teacher” dedicated to Architect Artak Ghulyan has opened at the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia. The exhibition was initiated by Artak Ghulyan’s students in collaboration with the teaching staff.

Judges in cases of defrocked clergy act under pressure: lawyer


The first instance court of Armavir region has examined the case of Aramayis Takhmazyan against the Armenian Apostolic Church. The defrocked priest is challenging the patriarchal decree of the Catholicos of All Armenians to declare him defrocked. The court had decided to order the Mother See to reinstate Aramayis Takhmazyan in the status of spiritual shepherd. Attorney Ara Zohrabyan claims that this case could not be accepted for proceedings because the state cannot interfere in the affairs of the church. He stated that the judges in the cases of Stepan Asatryan, Aramayis Takhmazyan and Arman Saroyan are acting under pressure.

 

Residents of Kuchak participated in the Rest service at the Holy Mother of God Church


During Lent, each of the clergy of the Aragatsotn diocese holds Liturgies, rituals, and services in his pastoral area. With the blessing of Bishop Proshyan, they gather once a week for joint prayer. Priests from the Artik diocese joined in prayer at the Holy Mother of God Church in Kuchak.

 

Judges hearing cases against the Church are acting under pressure: Lawyer


The Armavir Regional Court of First Instance examined the case of Stepan Asatryan against the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, in which the defrocked priest challenges the patriarchal directive of the Catholicos of All Armenians to declare him defrocked. In another session, the case of Aramayis Takhmazyan against the Mother See was examined. He is also a defrocked priest. Earlier, the court examined the claim of the former Primate of the Masyatsotn Diocese, Arman Saroyan. According to the lawyer, in all three cases it is obvious that the judges are acting under pressure.

Mid-lent was celebrated at the Holy Mother of God Church in Dashtavan


The older generation of Dashtavan participated in the evening service, prayed with the prelate of the Masyatsotn diocese, Bishop Ruben Zargaryan, and the spiritual pastor of the Dashtavan Holy Mother of God Church, Father Abraham Martirosyan. The 24th day of Lent is Mid-lent, which the people celebrated with the traditional Lenten gata, stories of legends, and visits to each other. The Mid-lent gata was cut by the oldest resident of Dashtavan, 94-year-old Sirush Babayan. The cross kept in the gata went to Azniv Voskanyan.

 

The court examined the case of Stepan Asatryan vs. the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church


Defrocked priest Stepan Asatryan is challenging the patriarchal decree of the Catholicos of All Armenians to declare him defrocked. Ara Zohrabyan has argued that this case cannot be examined within the jurisdiction of the court, since the parties are not in a working relationship with each other. The lawyer also noted that he will do everything to hold the judge accountable.

A Requiem service was held at the Mother Cathedral under the auspices of His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians


The Brotherhood of the Mother See and the faithful prayed for the peace and tranquility of the souls of those who died defending the homeland. January 27 has been designated as the Day of Remembrance of those who died defending the homeland in Armenia. During the requiem mass, those present remembered in their prayers all the martyrs of the past and present.

Father Manuk Zeynalyan performed a house blessing in Ashtarak


Since the first century, the apostles, faithful to the message of Christ, visited the homes of believers to proclaim the Good News of the Holy Nativity and the Glorious Resurrection and to distribute blessings. Their followers, the priests, do the same after the feasts of the Holy Nativity and the Resurrection.