The Arakelots Monastery in Tavush has been declared one of the most endangered monuments of European heritage


The project on the 13th-century Arakelots Monastery and Settlement in Tavush has won the Europa Nostra 2025 competition and has been declared one of the 7 most endangered monuments of European heritage. The project was presented to Europa Nostra by Austrian Armenologist, Doctor of Armenian Studies at the Center for Christian Oriental Studies at the University of Salzburg, Jasmin Dum-Tragut.

Catholicos of All Armenians received clergy participating in training courses


The Catholicos of All Armenians received clergy from various dioceses of Armenia and the Diaspora who had arrived at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to participate in training courses. His Holiness conveyed his fatherly love and blessing to the spiritual fathers and reflected with satisfaction on the effectiveness of the training courses.

His Holiness was awarded the first class Order of "Metropolitan of Moscow, St. Alexy"


On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin was presented the Order of the First Class of “Metropolitan of Moscow St. Alexy”, awarded by His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill I. The Patriarch of the Russian Church expressed his appreciation for the significant contribution of the Armenian Patriarch to the development of relations between the two Churches.

Registration for Haycamp and St. Vardan summer camps has begun in the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America


Children and youth ages 8 to 15 and 14 to 17 are registered to participate in the camps. Each summer, Armenian-American youth and children gain new experiences at the diocesan summer camps, learning to understand Armenian culture and faith more deeply. Both camps create a physically and spiritually healthy environment where young Armenian-American Christians participate in spiritual and Armenian culture classes and sports. The camps operate through community donors and the philanthropy of the Armenian Diocese.

 

 

The Primate of the Armenian Diocese of the United Kingdom has appealed to the Prime Minister to release Armenian prisoners of war


The Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Great Britain and Ireland, Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, has written a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. It was signed by eight other church leaders, including the bishops of Winchester, Southwark and Leeds. The church leaders called on the Prime Minister to put pressure on Azerbaijan to release Armenians imprisoned on trumped-up charges. The letter from Bishop Hovakim and other church leaders was widely reported in the British media.
 

The Mother See uses its opportunities and leverage to secure the release of prisoners


The head of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America has appealed to the US President with a request to support the release of Armenian prisoners. He reported that Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan are being subjected to inhuman treatment and torture. The French diocese, together with the leaders of the Coptic and Assyrian Sister Churches, demanded the immediate release of the prisoners from the relevant bodies. Earlier, in November, at the call of the Catholicos of All Armenians, a joint prayer was held at the headquarters of the World Council of Churches in Geneva for peace, the release of prisoners, and support for the forcibly displaced.

 

The Holy Gospel of Shuryshkan is on display at the Mashtots Matenadaran


Pilgrims went to Matenadaran to see the Holy Gospel of Shuryshkan. They prayed for the health of their family members and the freedom of Armenian captives. The Holy Gospel of Shuryshkan is known for its miraculous power. This miraculous manuscript has helped believers for centuries, healing the sick and fulfilling their prayers. The Gospel is taken to the St. Gevorg Church in Mughni once a year, on the Feast of the Annunciation. This year, before the Feast of the Annunciation, there is an opportunity to see it in the Mashtotsyan Matenadaran.

 

Azerbaijan is trying to justify the undeniable facts of the genocide it unleashed


The Supreme Spiritual Council has called on the Armenian authorities, pan-Armenian and international structures to join efforts to stop the violence against Armenian prisoners and hostages at all costs and to achieve their release. The Council has recorded that the ongoing trial, which is in clear violation of the fundamental principles of international law, is accompanied by torture and inhuman treatment of the prisoners. The enemy is pursuing an undisguised goal to fundamentally distort the history of the realization of the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination, with the intention of humiliating the Armenian people and the Armenian state.

 

The Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople arrived at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin


After a joint prayer with the Brotherhood in the Mother Cathedral, a meeting between His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople took place in the Cathedral, followed by a private conversation. In the coming days, Patriarch Sahak will participate in the meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council to be convened in the Mother See.

Council of Eastern Orthodox Churches established in France


At the Church of the Armenian Diocese of France, the diocesan Primate, Bishop Grigor Khachatryan, met with the Primate of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Paris and Northern France, Bishop Markos, Primate of Southern France, Bishop Luke, Metropolitan of France of the Assyrian Orthodox Church, Bishop Georges, priests and laity. A founding assembly of the union was convened to approve the statutes and elect the bishop who will preside the Council.

Catholicos of All Armenians received the management and medical staff of the Etchmiadzin Medical Center


His Holiness urged doctors to use their professional abilities and skills with greater zeal to help people in need of treatment. His Holiness considered it important that medical personnel's professional and advisory work promote fertility among the population and raise a healthy generation, contributing to strengthening national vitality.

The Mother See has published the speeches, thoughts, messages, and words of blessing of His Holiness the Patriarch


Last year marked the 25th anniversary of the consecration and enthronement of His Holiness Karekin II, the Patriarch of All Armenians, and on that occasion, the Publishing House of the Mother See published a separate booklet in Western Armenian containing His Holiness' thoughts, excerpts from encyclical, sermons, speeches, messages, and words of blessing. All of this was published in the Echmiadzin magazine and the Christian Armenia biweekly in 1999-2022.