On this occasion of the Saint Gregory the Illuminator’s Commitment to the Pit the relic-bearing right hand of Gregory the Illuminator was taken to Khor Virap


Accompanied by priests, the pilgrims went to the Khor Virap monastery to participate in the festive liturgy and commune with the relics of the saint. Khor Virap also commemorates the names of two disciples of Christ, Thaddeus and Bartholomew, who met in the area adjacent to Khor Virap while preaching the word of the Lord and erected a cross at that place as a sign of their meeting.

 

A church is being built in the village of Darbnik at the initiative of Bishop Gevorg Saroyan


The church will have an attached chapel, which will also serve as a candlelight hall, so that the ceremony is not disturbed during the liturgy. The church will have a Sunday school, a pastor's house and a library, that is, all conditions are created so that a full spiritual life can be organized. The village of Darbnik has more than 1,800 residents, who go to neighboring villages to participate in church services.

The Armenian Relief Fund of the Eastern Diocese of the US is implementing a new healthcare program


High blood pressure and disease management methods were studied in the communities of Byurakan and Khndzoresk. Based on the results of the arterial hypertension program, interventions will be implemented following the guidelines of the World Health Organization, which sets out the strategy for the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases. Doctors and nurses from the communities of Byurakan and Khndzoresk have been trained.

Nork YC students returned with victories from the "Tbilisi Magical Spring" international competition-festival


Artistic groups from regional countries participated in the competition-festival. This was the first participation for the newly formed circus ensemble and the 5th grade of the dance school. The dance class presented an Armenian folk and modern dance performance at the competition and was awarded the "Best Choreography and Performance" award.

The young people participated in the evening service at the Holy Mother of God Church in Lusagyugh


For the second year now, the youth unions of the Aragatsotn Diocese have been celebrating Great Lent by jointly participating in liturgies and services, after which they talk around the Lenten table. Young people have many questions, especially during Great Lent. There are 19 youth unions in the Diocese, which include about 350 young people and teenagers.
 

At the end of the Evening service, the faithful celebrated Median Day of Lent in the courtyard of St. Anna Church


The 48-day period of Lent is shared during the Median Day, which is a short retreat to reflect on the past and upcoming days of fasting, to review spiritual behavior, and to reflect on daily life. There are fewer church ceremonies during the Median Day, but instead there are many folk customs. In particular, after the evening service, people gather around the dinner table and share unleavened bread.
 

On International Down Syndrome Day, 6 singers and the "Shoghakat" choir presented a video clip


The NGO "Arev Children: Children's Health and Development Center" has been operating in Armenia since 2018. The center was established on the initiative of Father Grigor Grigoryan, and more than 220 children attend it. A large group of specialists work at the center, with group and individual involvement of children. From speech development to socialization, every small success has been preceded by years of consistent daily work. The center's specialists also work with the children's parents.

 

The Armenian Apostolic Church commemorated the parable of the unjust steward


This Sunday of Great Lent is named after the unjust steward. The day gets its name from the Gospel parable of the same name. A wealthy man entrusted all his affairs to his steward. The wealthy man hears that the steward is wasting his property and dismisses him from his job. According to the parable, instead of being depressed, the man who lost his job relieves the rich man’s debtors before leaving. However, the rich man does not get angry, but on the contrary, praises him.
 

Art restoration students clean the paintings of St. Sarkis Church


The 4th-year students of the Charles Aznavour College of Culture, a group of painters-restorers, are cleaning the church canvases from years of dust and dirt in the hall of the St. Sarkis. The group is entrusted only with the work of cleaning the canvases, and in case of cracks or damage, the canvases will be handed over to specialists. The college students visited the Mother Cathedral of Etchmiadzin as interns, followed the restoration work of the frescoes, and learned the nuances and techniques from their senior colleagues.

 

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.

The Armenian Relief Fund has paid the tuition fees of 50 medical workers forcibly displaced from Artsakh


The Armenian Relief Fund Armenia office, established in the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the Northern America has paid the tuition fees of 50 medical workers forcibly displaced from Artsakh. Some of them have completed clinical residency training, while others have been enrolled in shorter-term educational programs. Within the framework of the program to support doctors forcibly displaced from Artsakh, the medical workers have acquired fresh professional knowledge and the opportunity to work in Armenia. The Armenian Relief Fund has collaborated with the Ministry of Health, the National Institute of Health, and Yerevan State Medical University in implementing the program.