An Opening of the Doors service was held in the Saint Gayane Monastery


At the Opening of the Doors service, the clergymen symbolically ask for the Lord's mercy. Psalms, prayers, and hymns are sung in front of the closed altar during the service. The mysterious door-opening ceremony performed in the evening of Palm Sunday completes the celebration performed in the morning, during which also, after a long pause, the curtains of the altars are opened again in the churches.

Palm Sunday festive liturgy was celebrated in St. Gregory the Illuminator Church


Faitbful participated in the Palm Sunday liturgy with wreaths woven from willow twigs. This feast symbolizes the triumphal entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, about which the evangelists testified. By the decision of the Patriarch of All Armenians, Palm Sunday was also declared a day of blessing for children. At the conclusion of the festive liturgy, the children were blessed. The Bible Society also gave gifts to around 200 Artsakh Armenian children.

An exhibition entitled "My home in Artsakh" was opened


An exhibition entitled "My home in Artsakh" was opened at the National Museum-Institute of Architecture. Photographs taken in Artsakh, stories of people who lost their homes and property were presented. Photos and stories of Artsakh residents were collected by Russians settled in Armenia.

His Holiness received the accelerated priests at the Mother See


The Catholicos of All Armenians received the priests who participated in the three-week Accelerated courses at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness Patriarch said during the meeting that history speaks in the environment of the Mother See and one should be able to experience it spiritually. He noticed that knowledge, lectures, personal contacts are valuable, but the mission of Holy Etchmiadzin is more valuable.

In the Church of St. Anna, a Rest service was held


On the Friday preceding Palm Sunday, university students and young people from Artsakh took part in the Rest services at the Saint Anna Church in Yerevan. During Lent, every Friday, Archimandrite Tovma Khachatryan presented different topics to the gathered.

A liturgy was served in the Saint Gayane Monastery and Advent Sunday was commemorated


A liturgy was held in the Saint Gayane Monastery under the solemnity of the Catholicos of All Armenians. The 6th Sunday of Great Lent is called Advent, because it reminds the believer of the first coming of Christ and symbolizes the second coming of the Lord.

His Holiness received the newly consecrated priests. The priests have new places of service


The Catholicos of All Armenians received eleven priests who received priestly consecration. They underwent a period of forty-day detention at the Mother See. The five newly ordained priests took a vow of celibacy. The day before, on the feast of Commitment to the Pit, the priests celebrated their inaugural Liturgy.

Defense of graduation theses at the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary


The authors have chosen very important topics for the master's thesis at Gevorgyan Theological Seminary. One of the works was dedicated to the social themes expressed in the general paper of Hakobos Tyarneghbor. Another student studied the 21st chapter of John's gospel, researched the commonalities and differences between John and the corresponding gospels. Another student studied the Seventh-day Adventist denomination and pointed out the deviations from the orthodox faith.

The relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator were brought to the Khor Virap monastery complex


The Holy Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the day of commemoration of St. Gregory the Illuminator descending into the deadly pit of Khor Virap. Many believers from different corners of Armenia went to Khor Virap under the guidance of the clergy of their dioceses.

The ACYO office organized a course for young people


At the one-day course organized at the office of the ACYO, the speakers presented the Christian origins of soft skills, teamwork, communication skills, and leadership.

The participants of the "Armenian University" educational program visited Saghmosavank


The students and professors of the "Armenian University" educational program were hosted in Aragatsotn Diocese on a familiarization visit. About 150 participants of "Armenian University" received the blessing of the Catholicos of all Armenians. "Armenian University" is a project of the "Armenian Project" scientific and educational NGO, the goal of which is the formation of an active civil society.

Divine Liturgy was served in the Saint Gayane Monastery, the parable of the unjust judge and the widow was mentioned


The Sunday Liturgy was held in the Saint Gayane Monastery of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin under the patronage of the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, during which the parable of the unjust judge and the widow was read. For Christians, this Sunday is an important reminder not to give up, not to despair, to rely on the righteous judge through prayer. Clergy urge you to put your body in order, clean your mind, open your heart and prepare your soul for dialogue with the Creator while praying.