A memorial evening dedicated to Khoren Palyan was held at Lusine Zakaryan's house-museum


In the 1960s, Khoren Palyan and Lusine Zakaryan were among the first to become the bearers and disseminators of Armenian spiritual song. Khoren Palyan is the author of musicological, philological and historiographical articles and studies. He wrote the educational manual “Chronology of the Armenian Church”. He is a co-author of books and volumes dedicated to Grabar and hymns. He taught at the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary, at the Philological and Theological Faculties of Yerevan State University.

After Christmas, clergy perform a house blessing ceremony


To proclaim the good news and distribute blessings, priests visit the homes of believers, bless the goods of the house and family members. According to the testimony of the evangelists, the ceremony of blessing the house was established by Jesus Christ, commanding his disciples to wish peace in that house when entering it. From the first century, the apostles visited the homes of believers to proclaim the good news of the Nativity and the Glorious Resurrection and distribute blessings. This spiritual and pious ceremony is continued by the Holy Apostolic Church to this day through the blessing of the house.

Photos of Kashatagh monuments collected in one book


Journalist, photographer Zohrab Erkoyan and Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor Mher Kumunts have jointly published the book “Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Zone” in English. Zohrab Erkoyan photographed the monuments of the Kashatagh region between 1996 and 2020, most of which are included in the book. Presenting the rich cultural heritage of Artsakh, the authors try to bring the lost culture to life through photography.

The clergy performed a house blessing ceremony at the Saghmosavank monastery


Father Oshin Hayrapetyan and Father Paren Arakelyan from the Saghmosavank parish of the Aragatsotn diocese visited the home of a family forcibly displaced from Artsakh. The clergy brought the good news of the birth of Christ to a dignified working, creative, and productive family. They blessed the goods and residents of the home, told the children about the classes operating at the Saghmosavan Youth Center, as well as the Luys Children's program. 

House Blessing and Water Blessing Ceremony was held at Izmirlyan Medical Center


The priest blessed the water, salt, and bread with the Holy Gospel, muron and cross, asking the Lord for bodily and spiritual healing and well-being within the threshold of each home. This order, established since the times of the apostles, is performed during the eight days following Christmas. Through the blessing of water, the sacrament of the Holy Baptism of Christ is transmitted to believing Christians.

With the blessing of His Holiness the Patriarch, the "Armenian Christmas" spiritual classical concert took place


In the "Aram Khachaturian" Concert Hall, with the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, the "Armenian Christmas" spiritual classical concert took place. The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra performed with the National Academic Choir of Armenia, sopranos Sarah Gilford and Siranush Gasparyan, mezzo-soprano Yulia Nikanorova, baritone Aram Khachaturian, and bass Hovhannes Nersisyan.

After the Christmas Liturgy, the holiday was celebrated with national songs and dances in the courtyard of St. Anna Church


With the efforts of the founders of the "Come Dance" initiative, citizens have been forming a dance circle for ten years. The number of citizens participating in the national song and dance is increasing year by year. The goal of the initiative is to continue the decades-long work of renowned choreographers, choreographers, and folklorists and to popularize Armenian dance.

Catholicos of All Armenians visited Yerablur Military Pantheon with the Brotherhood of the Mother See


Led by the Catholicos of All Armenians, the Brotherhood of the Mother See visited the Yerablur Military Pantheon to pray for the repose of the souls of Armenians who sacrificed their lives for the defense of Armenia and Artsakh. Prior to that, a requiem service was held at the Mother See after the liturgy. The Monday following the Tabernacle holidays is the Day of Remembrance of the Dead. The Church urges that on that day, people visit the graves of the deceased and pray for them.

festive liturgy was served at St. Sarkis Church


The Christmas Candlelight Liturgy was celebrated at the St. Sarkis Cathedral with gospel readings announcing the birth and revelation of Christ, hymns praising the Mother of God, praise, and prayer. The faithful visited the church to hear the good news of the Lord's birth and to take the symbolic light home with them.

The exhibition "Evangelical Manuscripts: The Biblical Treasury of the Matenadaran" has opened at the Matenadaran


A new thematic exhibition opened in the Donation Hall of the Mashtotsyan Matenadaran presents the Four Evangelists. Exclusive manuscripts that have not been exhibited or have been rarely exhibited have been selected. They tell the story of the art and artists of the time, starting from the 11th-12th centuries to the later period.

21 Artsakh children living in the Mother See's shelter received Christmas gifts


The Social Service Office of the Mother See organized a New Year's celebration for the children of families forcibly displaced from Artsakh living in the shelter under the auspices of Holy Etchmiadzin. Currently, 17 families, 54 people, live in the shelter, one large and peaceful family, constantly under the attention and care of the Mother See.

The degrees of acolytes, oratory, and semi-deaconry were given at the Mother Cathedral.


In front of the Holy Table of the Descent, Bishop Makar Hakobyan, Primate of the Diocese of Syunik, conferred the degrees of scholastic, oratorical, and semi-deacon upon the students of the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary and the Priest Training Course. A Liturgy was celebrated under the presiding authority of the Catholicos of All Armenians. 11 students of the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary and one graduate of the Priest Training Course were ordained deacons by His Bishop Makar.