The relics of Hovhannes Karapet and Bishop Atanagineh have been transferred to the Holy Shoghakat Monastery


The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the commemoration day of Saint Hovhannes Karapet and Bishop Atanagineh. His Holiness the Patriarch, accompanied by a procession, solemnly marched from the Cathedral to the Holy Trinity Cathedral, accompanied by the singing of hymns and the faithful. The procession of clergy, accompanied by the loud sounds of drums, moved to the Holy Shoghakat Monastery, this day is also the day of the consecration of the sanctuary.

The Araratian week started with the commemoration of St. Hripse and her Companions


The Araratian week symbolizes the conversion of the Armenians and the victory of the Christian faith over paganism. The events commemorated during this week are related to the establishment of Christianity in Armenia in 301 AD and took place in the Ararat Valley, which is why the week was named "Araratian".

 

Pentecost is the feast day of the Holy Apostles Church in Sevan


In 2011, by order of the Catholicos of All Armenians, the feast of Pentecost was declared the day of the feast of the Holy Apostles Church in Sevan. The reliquary containing the relics of the apostles Matthew and Andrew was transferred from the Mother See to the Holy Apostles Church. At the end of the liturgy, the Order of the Andastan was performed, asking for the steadfastness, peace, fruitfulness, and spiritual and physical health of Armenia and the Armenian Church.

 

Students of the Mkhitar Sebastatsi Educational Complex participated in an educational service


The program is called "Hakabatsil hymns," and involves students from five schools of the educational complex. The educational complex, as an educational institution implementing alternative pedagogy, has included participation in church services in the curriculum for the past 8 years. Starting from the first grade, children are introduced to simpler spiritual and folk songs by Komitas, and in higher grades, the program becomes more complex, with students listening to and singing Narekatsi, Shnorhali, and Yekmalyan.

 

The Church of St. Karapet in the village of Akunq, Kotayk region, has been reconsecrated and reopened


The Soviet government turned the St. Karapet Church into a grain warehouse. After the collapse of the USSR, they began to restore the church. Under the patronage of Vladimir Gasparyan, St. Karapet was partially renovated in 2006, but due to dampness, two decades later it needed to be renovated again.
 

A festive liturgy was served in Tsaghkevank on the feast of the Ascension


The feast of the Ascension is the day of the Tsaghkevank vow. Some of the pilgrims participated in the liturgy outside, sitting on the steps or stones. The festive liturgy was celebrated by Rev. Father Aram Asatryan. Water drips all year round in the rock-cut monastery on the slope of Mount Ara. Pilgrims collect this water and take it to heal the sick.

40 scribes from 12 pastorates of the Aragatsotn Diocese have been awarded the title of scribe


At the St. Mesrop Mashtots Church in Oshakan, 40 scribes serving in the churches of the diocese have received the title of scribe. They wear a vestment every Sunday and help the priests. The bishop gave the donors a key, a candlestick, and a Bible. With the scribe's title, the boys receive the right to perform the duties of doorkeeper, reader, torchbearer, and oath taker.

The relic of the Cross of Christ has been moved to the Holy Cross Church in Aparan


For the 10th consecutive year, on the feast of the Apparition of the Holy Cross, the sacred relic of Christ's Cross was transferred from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to the Holy Cross Church in Aparan, and a Liturgy of the vow was served. Believers from different communities of Armenia joined the vow of the Aparan people and went to be strengthened by the blessing of the sacred relic.
 

Harutyun Arakelyan after the 44-day war


Only after the 11th surgery were they able to save the leg of Harutyun Arakelyan, a participant in the 44-day war. After being wounded in the war, doctors did not give him hope that he would walk, even the option of amputating his leg was discussed, but everything ended successfully. Although Harutyun can now walk, he can no longer fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a boxing champion. Now he has founded the “Legends” boxing club in Hrazdan, where he trains children.

A festive liturgy was served at Noravank Church


After the reconstruction and re-consecration of Noravank in 1999, the monastery's feast day was established. In the Armenian Church's calendar, that day coincides with Ashkharamatra or Green Sunday. The festive liturgy was celebrated by Archbishop Abraham Mkrtchyan, Primate of the Vayots Dzor Diocese, and Archimandrite Zareh Kabaghyan, the abbot of Noravank and deputy primate of the Vayots Dzor Diocese.

 

Meetings with clergy are being organized at the Artsakh Diocese office


Members of the Youth Union of the Holy Mother of God Church in Stepanakert are organizing discussions with clergy. This time, the Director of the Church and Youth Training Programs, Bishop Vahan Hovhannisyan, met with the youth. At the meeting, they discussed the topic of "The Existence of Evil Contrary to the Resurrection of Christ."

 

Believers survived the final hours of Christ's earthly life


After the order of crucifixion, the commemoration of the descent of Jesus from the cross and his burial was performed on Good Friday evening. The service of Christ's burial was performed in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin under the presiding authority of the Catholicos of All Armenians.