Vardenut community celebrated the 6th anniversary of the consecration of St. Mercerius Church


By the Patriarchal direction of the Catholicos of All Armenians and with the blessing of the Primate of the Aragatsotn Diocese, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, the relic of Saint Gevorg Zoravar was transferred from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to the church for the first time. The festive Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the spiritual pastor of the Aragats diocese, Father Maghakia Gevorgyan. He considered it important in the life of a Christian to have unshakable faith, to follow the example of the saints, and to be faithful to the Mother Church.

150 young artists participated in the "Ararat in Our Eyes" event


The spiritual and educational-cultural event titled "Ararat in Our Eyes" brought together about 150 young artists from the Mother See and the Armenian General Benevolent Union's Youth centers in the courtyard of the "Vache and Tamar Manukyan" Matenadaran. Later, a large exhibition of the young artists' paintings will open. Each work will be accompanied by a short essay by the author.

 

The relic of the cross of Christ has been moved to the Holy Mother of God Church in the village of Agarak


On the feast of the Holy Cross of Varaga, for the first time, a relic of the Cross of Christ was brought from the Mother See to the Holy Mother of God Church in the village of Agarak, Aragatsotn region. The pilgrims, accompanied by priests, headed to the church. The liturgy was celebrated by the abbot of the St. Stepanos Monastery of Kosh, Father Shnorhk Paloyan. The nuns of the Ghazaravan Monastery sang at the liturgy.

St. George's Day Commemoration Celebrated with Festive Liturgy at St. George's Cathedral


Accompanied by priests, families, and large and small groups, pilgrims headed to Hovhannavank to participate in the general confession service, which was performed by the Primate of the Aragatsotn Diocese, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan. During the liturgy, the faithful communed with the relics of the saint. A requiem service was held in memory of the Armenians martyred in the 44-day Artsakh war.

The 2nd edition of the Artsakh Diocese's Book Series, "Artsakh Miracle Stories," has been published


Along with historical facts about the Amaras Monastery, Tsitsernavank, Gtchavank and many other holy places in Artsakh, the book presents numerous miracles related to them, as well as miracle stories testifying to the faith and personal spiritual experiences of the Armenians of Artsakh. The book has been published in English and Armenian. It is an initiative of the Diocese of Artsakh and the “Dialogue” NGO, published under the auspices of the “Tufenkian Foundation” and the “Save Armenia” organization.

The Holy Relic of the Cross of the Lord has been moved to the St. Mariane Church in Ashtarak


On the second Tuesday following the Exaltation of the Cross, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the feast of the memory of Saints Peprone, Mariane, and Saint Shushanik, daughter of General Vardan. This is also the day of the dedication of the Holy Mariane Church in Ashtarak. For the second year in a row, on this day, under the Patriarchal direction of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, the sacred relic of the Cross of the Lord is brought to the Church of St. Mariane from the treasury of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

The relic of Saint Stepanos the Proto-Deacon has been moved to the Nigavan church


On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the consecration of the Saint Stepanos Church in Nigavan, the relic of Saint Stepanos the Proto Deacon was transferred from the Mother See by the order of the Armenian Patriarch. The participants of the liturgy received communion and were granted the power emanating from the relic of Saint Stepanos the Proto Deacon.

The relics of Saint Jacob the Elder have been transferred to the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Tsovinar


The pilgrims went on a cross procession to the village's Holy Mother of God to celebrate the 13th anniversary of the church's reconsecration with a festive liturgy. Before that, the Primate of the Gegharkunik Diocese performed a requiem service at the khachkar-monument dedicated to the memory of Armenians who died in the war with the relics of Hakobos the Brother of the Holy Father, asking for the intercession of the saint for the repose of the souls of the martyred soldiers. The Andastan Service was also performed for the peace of the homeland.

The mother of a deceased serviceman organized an exhibition dedicated to her son at the Artists' Union


An exhibition titled "Promised Return" has opened at the Artists' Union, dedicated to the memory of Ruben Poghosyan, who died in the 44-day Artsakh war. These days, Ruben is celebrating his 25th birthday. The author of the paintings is Ruben's mother, Anush Melikyan, who was helped to overcome the grief of losing her child by the church. The priest of the Nubarashen parish, Father Bardughimeos, first united the mothers who had lost their children around the church through prayer and spiritual conversations on a virtual platform, and then they tried to overcome the pain together by participating in liturgies and pilgrimages.

The day after the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is the Rememberance of the Dead


A Liturgy was served in the churches, during which a requiem mass was performed in memory of all the deceased. The clergy and the faithful prayed for the peace of the souls of the deceased. At the request of the relatives of the deceased, the clergy blessed the graves.

 

The relic of the Lord's Cross has been moved to the Zoravor Holy Mother of God Church in the village of Apna


The church, built in the 4th century and destroyed by an earthquake, was restored after several attempts only in 2022 and consecrated that same year on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This year marks the third anniversary of the church's re-consecration. The church began to be rebuilt in 2020 with the philanthropy of the Madoyan family.

 

Participants of the procession in Gyumri prayed for Bishops Michael and Bagrat, and for Samvel Karapetyan


The participants of the procession, led by Father Makar Galamdaryan and Father Hakob Grigoryan, walked to the Holy Nshan Church with prayers, hymns, and spiritual songs. Near the Holy Mother of God Yot Verk Church, the participants of the procession prayed for the speedy release of Archbishops Michael and Bagrat, Samvel Karapetyan, and other detainees. With the blessing of the Primate of the Shirak Diocese, Archbishop Michael Ajapahyan, the Pre-Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross has already become a tradition.