Religious ties of non-religious people and non-believers with the Armenian Apostolic Church: A new book


Historian Stepan Stepanyants has addressed the religious ties of non-Armenian and non-religious people with the Armenian Apostolic Church in the 19th and 20th centuries in a new work. The 620-page collection of documents was published by the Publishing House of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The author compiled, translated, annotated the collection and wrote a foreword. The documents collected show that many Jews living in the Russian Empire in the 19th century decided to be baptized and convert to Christianity.

The faithful left the Mother See only after the Catholicos returned to the monastery


The group of bishops who arrived at the Mother See by minibus, under the supervision of police officers and people in civilian clothes, tried to read a statement near the Arch of King Trdat, but as a result of the chants of the faithful, their voices were not heard. First, Bishop Anushavan Zhamkochyan tried to spread a statement on behalf of the group of bishops, then Archbishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan. They left the territory of the Mother See accompanied by whistles from the faithful and security forces. The citizens who came to support the Catholicos of All Armenians waited until His Holiness returned from the temple to the cloister, after which they left.

All structures of the Bulgarian diocese have denied the statement of Pashinyan's media outlet


A media outlet owned by Nikol Pashinyan's family wrote that several members of the diocesan council of the Armenian Church in Bulgaria expressed solidarity with the ten bishops who issued a statement about the defrocked former priest Armen Melkonyan. Almost all diocesan structures and community organizations operating in Bulgaria, led by the vicar of the prelate, Bishop Tatev Hakobyan, have denied that publication with official statements.

A New Year's reception was held at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Montreal


The event was organized by Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan, Primate of the Diocese of Canada. The New Year's Eve was attended by the clergy of the diocese, heads of community structures, believers with their families and close friends. The event was followed by a candlelight vigil and a concert dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the "For the Children of Armenia" diocesan fund.

"Luminous Images: The Miniature Revelation of Angels" Exhibition Opens


Handwritten manuscripts, archival documents, ancient books, ribbon-shaped charms and unique manuscript compositions are presented. The ideological and iconographic axis of the exhibits is the image of angels. About 25 exclusive manuscripts have been selected for the exhibition. Both the manuscripts and other exhibits are mainly displayed for the first time.

 

The feast of Saint Stephen the Forerunner was celebrated in the Azatan community


With the blessing of the Primate of the Diocese of Shirak, Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, and the Spiritual Superintendent of the Diocese, Bishop Narek Avagyan, the feast of St. Stepanos the Forerunner was celebrated in the Azatan community. The residents of the community walked with their flocks to the St. Stepanos Church, where the Holy Liturgy of the Covenant was celebrated. During the liturgies and hours in the churches of the Diocese of Shirak, prayers are always said for the clergy in prison, and especially for the Primate of the Diocese, Archbishop Mikayel.

Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan Detained for Two Months


The Archbishop of the Mother See was arrested on December 4 at the Investigative Committee, where he was summoned for questioning in connection with the video clips posted online. After the interrogation, National Security Service officers arrested him. He is accused of drug trafficking.

 

Hmayak Avetisyan


Artist Hmayak Avetisyan, who survived the Genocide and grew up in an orphanage, painted churches and monasteries scattered throughout Armenia in the last years of his life, from 1974 to 1978. In this way, he shows that no one is able to forget the national identity and the faith of his ancestors. Hmayak Avetisyan bequeathed one thing to his heirs: to preserve his works, with the dream and hope of one day returning to Van and exhibiting them there.

Yervand Ter-Minasyan's memoir has been published


On Yervand Ter-Minasyan's birthday, the presentation of the book "Memories of My Life" took place at the Mashtots Matenadaran. It is the second, revised edition of the scientist's memoirs. On the day of the presentation, architect Anush Ter-Minasyan donated valuable samples from her grandfather's archive to the Matenadaran.

 

The Mother Cathedral of the Armenian Diocese of Bucharest was reconsecrated and its 110th anniversary was celebrated


The Cathedral of the Holy Archangels was re-consecrated after renovations funded by the Romanian Ministry of Religion. The ceremony was presided over by the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Romania, Bishop Hakobyan of Tatev, and attended by 6 diocesan leaders. The doors of the Mother Cathedral were consecrated and consecrated, as well as the 2 relic altars prepared on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the sanctuary and donated by the Hovakimyan family, in which the Hands of St. John the Baptist and St. Panteleimon the Doctor were placed for the veneration of Armenian and Romanian believers.

 

An eventful week in one breath


The Church of the Holy Archangels, the seat of the Armenian Diocese of Romania, was reconsecrated after renovation.
On Sunday, the Armenian Congregation of Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of the Invention of the Cross according to the old calendar.
During the Liturgy, a ceremony of ordination and blessing of the sacrificial lamb was held in the Armenian Community of Mainz.

The meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council concluded


The Supreme Spiritual Council has strongly condemned the blatant illegal encroachments and oppression against the rights of the Church and clergy, the spread of hate speech and intolerance.
The Council reaffirmed the position of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to support the establishment of justice and protect the rights of the Church’s ministers and the faithful, once again calling on law enforcement agencies to stop illegal criminal proceedings and release the imprisoned clergy and civilians. The Council emphasized that steps are needed to restore the rights of the Mother See and the liturgical life in the Hovhanavank Monastery, protect the spiritual and canonical life of the faithful, and ensure the normal service of the clergy.