Verzhine Svazlyan is preparing to publish a new book on the Turkish-speaking folklore of Western Armenians


In the reading room of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, the scientist presented the materials she wrote down and recorded between 1955 and 2025, which concerned the forced conversion of Western Armenians to Turkish in the Ottoman Empire and Turkish-speaking folklore. Armenian-letter Turkish literature was the means of communication for more than half a million Turkish-speaking and non-Armenian Armenians who were forcibly Islamized. The works of world classics and famous authors of the time were translated into that language.
 

The torchlight procession was held under the slogan "The Struggle Continues"


The slogan "The Struggle Continues" symbolizes the unbreakable will of the Armenian people and the relentless struggle for justice. At the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex, His Eminence Haykazun conveyed the blessing of the Catholicos of All Armenians to the participants of the procession. His Holiness called on them to remain faithful to their identity and keep their national memory alive.

Easter in the World


On April 5, the Feast of the Holy Resurrection of Jesus Christ united Armenians around the world. The Catholicos of All Armenians celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral.
Celebrations were held in all Armenian churches. The Easter message of the Armenian Patriarch was read in all churches of dioceses around the world. The Patriarchal speech is a guide for Armenians living thousands of miles away from their homeland, as well as a call to use personal abilities for the national interest.

Interrupted Mission


The Ministry of Defense suspended the activities of the Institute of Chaplaincy of the Armed Forces in February. The government interpreted this decision as a step towards secularization of the army and separation from religious structures. How reasonable is this government claim, what problem were the clergy in the army actually solving, and what was the real reason for this decision by the Ministry of Defense?

The court hearing in the case of Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan was held without the victims


Defrocked Aramayis Tokhmazyan and Stepan Asatryan did not appear in court. According to the accusation, Bishop Mkrtich forced the clergy of the diocese to participate in rallies organized against the Prime Minister, and during the 2021 elections, he instructed them not to vote for the ruling party. The Holy Father denies the accusation. Lawyers describe it as political persecution.
 

The government falsely appointed Arman Saroyan as a member of the commission for discussing pardon issues


Arman Saroyan was appointed a member of the “Consultative Commission for Discussing Pardon Issues” as a representative of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church. The Mother See announced that the appointment was made without the consent of the Armenian Apostolic Church and violates the legislation of the Republic of Armenia. A representative of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church in a state or any other structure can only be appointed with the blessing and privilege of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Catholicos of All Armenians. And the declared deposed Bishop Gevorg is not authorized and cannot represent the Armenian Church either from a canonical, legal or moral point of view.
 

The faithful people today once again heard the life-giving gospel from the lips of His Holiness


The greatest miracle in history, the Resurrection of Christ, brings thousands of Armenians to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. This day is a holiday of universal joy and rebirth. The faithful people participate in the Patriarchal Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral, receive the message of His Holiness and once again hear from the lips of the Patriarch the life-giving gospel: “Christ is risen from the dead.”
 

The Feast of the Resurrection of Jesus was celebrated in the Mother Church of St. Gregory of Narek in Vanadzor


The Divine Liturgy of the Resurrection was served by the diocesan leader, Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan. The faithful, together with the Bishop, asked for a blessing from the Lord so that they would remain strong in their faith with the life-giving grace of the Holy Resurrection. At the end of the Liturgy, the festive mood of the day continued with folk songs and dances in the courtyard of the Church of St. Gregory of Narek. The handmade works of 7 masters of the Henrik Igityan National Aesthetic Center and the students of the diocesan “Tun” social-educational center were presented in the pavilions placed in the courtyard.

 

The bells of the Armenian Apostolic Church heralded the miraculous resurrection of Christ


A festive liturgy of Candlemas was served in the Mother Cathedral, after which the patriarchal procession moved to the candlelight hall to convey the life-giving light of the feast of the Holy Resurrection to the believers.

Penitential Rite Performed at the Mother See


The Penitential Rite is an opportunity to be cleansed of sins. It is after this rite that the faithful become worthy of Holy Communion. Those who have passed the period of Great Lent with penance go to church early in the morning, at 7:30, where the Penitential Rite is performed at the end of the liturgy. During this beautiful ceremony, rich in psalms and hymns, the faithful are granted absolution so that after forty days of fasting they can approach Holy Communion.

 

Holy Thursday is the most solemn day in the church’s liturgy


At 7:30 a.m., a service of hours and absolution of penitents were held at the Mother See, after which Father David celebrated the Divine Liturgy. It was on Holy Thursday that Jesus established the sacrament of Holy Communion. Holy Thursday is one of the few days of Great Lent when the curtain of the tabernacle is opened, an open Liturgy is celebrated, and communion is given. Communion is one of the main sacraments of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
 

A festive Liturgy was served at the Holy Mother of God Church in Gavar


The Palm Sunday is one of the favorite feasts of the Gavar people, for which the faithful are preparing with joy, reliving the enthusiasm with which the people welcomed Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. After the morning service and the Andastan service, the blessed branches were distributed to the faithful. At the Holy Mother of God Church, the clergy and the Bible Society presented hundreds of children with Bibles.