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.
 

The Holy Gospel of Shuryshkan is on display at the Mashtots Matenadaran


Pilgrims went to Matenadaran to see the Holy Gospel of Shuryshkan. They prayed for the health of their family members and the freedom of Armenian captives. The Holy Gospel of Shuryshkan is known for its miraculous power. This miraculous manuscript has helped believers for centuries, healing the sick and fulfilling their prayers. The Gospel is taken to the St. Gevorg Church in Mughni once a year, on the Feast of the Annunciation. This year, before the Feast of the Annunciation, there is an opportunity to see it in the Mashtotsyan Matenadaran.

 

During the Lent period, on Fridays, there will be a Divine Liturgy


During the Lent period, on Fridays, Rest services  will be held, and on Wednesday mornings, at Sunset service
Evening Peace and Rest services are held before sunset, symbolizing the burial of Christ, his descent into hell, and the deliverance of the righteous from torment. The clergy ask for peace and tranquility for the soul of a person burdened by daily sins.
 

The Mother See has published the speeches, thoughts, messages, and words of blessing of His Holiness the Patriarch


Last year marked the 25th anniversary of the consecration and enthronement of His Holiness Karekin II, the Patriarch of All Armenians, and on that occasion, the Publishing House of the Mother See published a separate booklet in Western Armenian containing His Holiness' thoughts, excerpts from encyclical, sermons, speeches, messages, and words of blessing. All of this was published in the Echmiadzin magazine and the Christian Armenia biweekly in 1999-2022.

On the Eve of Great Lent, a liturgy was served in the half-built St. Mesrop Church in the Erebuni community


The spiritual pastor of the church, Rev. Father Ghukas Balayan, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the hut. Some of the faithful participated in the sacred ceremony in the yard. St. Mesrop Church houses carpet weaving and English groups, as well as a Sunday school.
 

The permanent exhibition of Armenian painting at the National Gallery of Armenia has reopened


This year marks the 165th anniversary of the birth of the renowned artist and intellectual Vardges Surenyants. Surenyants was born in 1860, into the family of the elder priest Hakob. The works of Vardges Surenyants and other prominent Armenian artists of the 18th-20th centuries are exhibited at the National Gallery of Armenia. After renovation, the permanent exhibition of Armenian art has reopened.

A matinee was organized at the writer's museum on the occasion of Ruben Sevak's 140th anniversary


The entire archive of Ruben Sevak was collected by his nephew, Hovhannes Chilinkiryan. In 2013, through the efforts of the Patriarch of All Armenians, the MASE became the final resting place of Ruben Sevak. The museum tells its visitors about Ruben Sevak's literary and social activities; at the same time, it has also become a preferred place for organizing cultural events for many artists. Not only the writer's personal archive is presented, but also the works of Armenian artists of the same period.

An exhibition titled "The Art of Blooming" opened at the Matenadaran


The authors are students of the Yerevan Matenadaran's "Art of Blooming" miniature painting studio, who meet once a week. They study what blooming is, what miniature painters bloomed in the Middle Ages, get acquainted with the history of miniature painting, preserved manuscripts, and the works of the Matenadaran.

An exhibition of works by students of Youth Centers was held at the Artists' Union.


The exhibition featured works by students studying in the painting and applied arts classes of the Youth Centers. Hundreds of students and teachers from eight Youth Centers operating in Armenia had the opportunity to present the results of their daily creative work in their educational institutions: miniatures, sculptures, paintings and pottery. The exhibition was dedicated to the 30-year activity of the Youth Centers.

On the occasion of the feast of St. Sarkis, a blessing ceremony for young people was held at the Mother Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator


The Director of the Central Office of the World Youth Union of the Armenian Church, Archimandrite Tovma Khachatryan, urged the young people gathered from different dioceses of Artsakh and Armenia to remain in the Divine mystery, to follow their dreams, ignoring all challenges.

Students of the Gyumri Youth Center were recognized as winners of the Kremlin Mkrtchyan International Tournament


Melania Sargsyan and Anna Shahbazyan, students of the Gyumri Youth Center, took 1st place. The Gyumri Youth Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has art and sports classes. There are currently 230 students in nine classes.
The Youth Center was opened in 2014 under the patronage of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. The benefactor is Sandra Lightner.