Catholicos of All Armenians attended the funeral of Pope Francis


A Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the funeral service, during which representatives of various Churches had the opportunity to pray for the repose of Pope Francis' soul. The previous day, the Patriarch of All Armenians had offered a private prayer for the repose of Pope Francis' soul in St. Peter's Basilica. About 250,000 pilgrims visited St. Peter's Basilica to bid farewell to the pontiff.
 

Chronicle of events on the anniversary of the Genocide


Georgian Armenians in Tbilisi staged a protest in front of the Turkish Embassy
The 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was commemorated at St. Yeghishe Armenian Apostolic Church in London
The memory of the holy martyrs was also commemorated at Oxford University Church.
An inter-church intercessory prayer was held with the participation of the leaders and bishops of the sister churches of Damascus

Catholicos of All Armenians to attend Pope Francis' funeral


His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, has sent a letter of condolences on the death of the Patriarch. His Holiness emphasized that the Armenian people remember with gratitude the liturgy celebrated in St. Peter's Cathedral on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the proclamation of St. Gregory of Narek as a universal archpriest, as well as the Pope's visit to Armenia.
 

Newmeg Publishing and AGBU Organize Genocide Studies Week


The event featured a discussion with the author of the book “The Origins of the Genocide State” or “A Hundred Years of Apartheid” by Turkish historian Taner Akçam, in which Akçam criticizes Turkey’s hundred-year history, highlighting structural problems and the absence of democratic values. He notes that the history of the country’s founding is distorted and serves the regime. According to Akçam, Turkey’s state structure is based on discrimination, violence and oppression, which is reminiscent of the workings of the “apartheid” system. The Turkish historian suggests rewriting history from a new perspective, without propaganda, and calls for accepting the mistakes of the past so that Turkey can build a freer and more just society.

 

After the Resurrection Liturgy in the courtyard of St. Anna Church, believers danced in a circle


Every year on Easter and Christmas, the “Ari Pari” platform organizes a folk festival. The clergy welcomes the efforts of young people interested in national dance and supports them. The participants of the folk festival dance Ververi, Yarkhusta, and Kochari.
 

Armenian clergy and pilgrims carried the Artsakh flag while traveling to the Church of the Resurrection


After midnight on April 20, the monks of the Armenian Monastery of Jerusalem made the first entry into the Church of the Holy Resurrection. After praying at the place of Christ’s crucifixion, on Holy Golgotha, the Brotherhood ascended to the Second Armenian Golgotha ​​chapel, where the Night Service was performed. At dawn, with the singing of the morning service hymn, the Monastic Fathers and the Hereditary disciples descended from the chapel in procession and began a three-way procession around the Holy Sepulcher of Christ. In the morning, the second entry into the Church of the Holy Resurrection took place.
 

The Feast of the Resurrection was celebrated in the Mother Cathedral for the first time after the reconsecration


The liturgy was presided over by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. The candlelight service in the Mother Cathedral was performed by Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, the Chancellor of the Mother See. The feast of the Holy Resurrection began with the candlelight service. With the blessings of the Catholicos of All Armenians, light was distributed to those present from a candle burning in the sanctuary in the Mother Cathedral.

The Church commemorated the Last Supper of Christ and the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist


On the morning of Holy Thursday, the Service for those who are fasting (Apashkharoghac) was held in the Mother Cathedral, followed by the Midday Service. The fasting faithful participated in the ceremony. On the morning of Holy Thursday, those who repent are granted absolution. Penitence is one of the seven sacraments of the Armenian Church. A penitent is a person who repents of a crime, offense, or mistake and is ready to atone for the sin. Those who sincerely repent and are granted absolution.

The monograph entitled "The Stone Chronicle of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin" has been published


It is dedicated to the reconsecration of the Mother Cathedral and summarizes the lithographic heritage of the Mother Cathedral. For the first time, the construction and renovation works of the Mother Cathedral over the centuries are presented in the form of a chronicle, that is, in chronological order. The author of the monograph is lithographer Arsen Harutyunyan. The Armenian lithographs of the Mother Cathedral were studied in detail during the last large-scale renovation, when different layers of the walls of the building were opened.

On the occasion of the 205th anniversary of Khrimyan Hayrik, members of the Vaspurakan NGO visited the Mother See


A requiem service was held at the tomb of Patriarch Mkrtich I in front of the Mother Cathedral. With prayer and incense, the Brotherhood of the Mother See and members of the Vaspurakan NGO commemorated the memory of the patriarch, who enjoyed great popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The participants of the event visited the Ruben Sevak and Khrimyan Hayrik museums of the Mother See.

The epigrapher has found out why the Tatev Monastery is also called the Monastery of St. Eustathius the Apostle


Epigrapher Arsen Harutyunyan, while studying the Tatev Monastery, noticed that in the works of church historians and in late periodical documents, the Tatev Monastery is also called the Monastery of St. Eustathius the Apostle. His study showed that until the 15th century, there was no mention in historical sources that the monastery was named after the Apostle Eustathius. The name of the Apostle Eustathius is also not attested in the stone inscriptions of the Tatev Monastery. Only from the 15th century, during the reign of the Tatevites, does the tradition associated with him circulate.

 

Catholicos of All Armenians receives participants of priest training courses


His Holiness conveyed his blessing to the priests, highly appreciating the zeal of the clergy in enriching their ritual and theological knowledge. His Holiness emphasized that continuous education is important for more effective service. His Holiness urged the priests to put their abilities and knowledge at the service of the Church, the welfare of the Armenian people, and the development of the homeland.