Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II Receives Newly Consecrated Bishops


The Catholicos of All Armenians congratulated them on their episcopal elevation and wished them a fruitful mission for the glory of the Holy Apostolic Church and the building of the Fatherland. His Holiness urged the Holy Fathers to keep their vows, to make every effort to strengthen the national-spiritual life, and to inspire faith and hope in the people. After the ordination and consecration, Bishop Zakaria Baghumyan celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral.
 

Republican Wishes Held at Mother Cathedral on the Occasion of the Holiday


On the occasion of the Republic Day, a Republican wish was held at the Mother Cathedral under the presiding authority of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. The clergy and the faithful prayed for the stability, peaceful and secure life of the Republic of Armenia. After the Republican wish, Bishop Ruben Zargaryan celebrated the first episcopal liturgy in front of the Holy Table of the Descent in the Mother Cathedral of the Nativity. His Holiness was ordained and consecrated by the Armenian Patriarch last Sunday, on the feast of Pentecost.
 

The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the feast of the Hripsime Virgins


The Patriarch of All Armenians blessed the clergy and the pious people at the Arch of St. Gregory the Illuminator with the relic of the Virgin Hripsime. On the occasion of the feast, a Holy and Immortal Liturgy was served at the Holy Hripsime Monastery. At the end of the liturgy, the Order of the Family was performed with the relic of the saint. This feast marks the start of the Araratian Week.
 

Students of Youth Center Celebrated the Feast of the Hripsime Virgins and Children by Drawing, Singing and Playing


On the Feast of the Hripsime Virgins, students of the Youth Center of Yerevan, Ashtarak and Echmiadzin, under the leadership of the spiritual director, Father Harutyun Kirakosyan, together with the spiritual ministers of the institutions and educators, celebrated the church holiday and the International Day for the Protection of Children. They placed drawing supplies, chess boards, carpet weaving looms, various handicraft supplies in the courtyard of the St. Hripsime Monastery and drew, crafted and sang. Later, the children went to Zvartnots Cathedral to see the architectural masterpiece, where the drummers of the Youth Center held a flash mob.

 

The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the feast of the St. Gayane Virgins


A procession of clergy led by the Armenian Patriarch moved from the Mother Cathedral to the Saint Gayane Monastery. Every year on the day of the saint's commemoration, the right-shaped relic of Saint Gayane is brought out to distribute blessings to the faithful. During Araratian Week, the relics of Saint John the Baptist and Bishop Atanagin will be taken from the Mother See to the Shoghakat Monastery, and the day of the monastery's consecration will also be celebrated. 

Bas-relief of Khoren Palyan placed on the wall of Lusine Zakaryan's house-museum


On the birthday of People's Artist of Armenia Lusine Zakaryan, the anniversary of the founding of the house-museum was celebrated and a bas-relief perpetuating the memory of Khoren Palyan was placed on the wall of the building. The museum does not have state support, it operates with the financial support of relatives and friends of Raffi Palyan and the Lusine Zakaryan-Khoren Palyan couple. The board of trustees of the museum has established a scholarship named after Lusine Zakaryan in almost all musical educational institutions, with which talented young vocalists are encouraged.
 

After the Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral, the Ascension Day games were played in the courtyard


An open painting lesson dedicated to the Ascension Day was held in the Mother See. Students from the Youth Center of Yerevan and Etchmiadzin gathered under the guidance of educators and spiritual ministers. Dance groups from the Youth Center, students from the circus school, dhol players, and kanon players performed at the entrance to the Mother See's Matenadaran. After the concert program, the students from the Youth Center met with His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.

Some pilgrims at Tsaghkevank attended the liturgy outside, on the steps


Father Sarkis Sargsyan introduced the pilgrims to the meaning and importance of the Feast of the Ascension. The Feast of the Ascension is the day of the Tsaghkevank vow. Pilgrims arrive at the monastery with hope, faith, and prayer to ask for the intercession of the Christian virgin. Believers collect the water flowing from the walls drop by drop to heal the sick.
 

Catholicos of All Armenians Visits Victory Park Memorial Complex


On May 9, on the occasion of the Victory and Peace Day, Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, accompanied by the confreres of the Mother See, visited the Victory Park Memorial Complex, laid flowers at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier and paid tribute to the eternal memory of those who died in the Great Patriotic War and the Artsakh heroic battle. The clergy, led by His Holiness the Patriarch, prayed for the repose of their souls.
 

Catholicos of All Armenians Visits Recently Renovated Malatia Youth Center


The Armenian Patriarch blessed and presented crosses to the students of the institution and spoke with them. The institution was recently renovated with the support of the Armenian General Benevolent Union, and is named after the benefactor family, Levon and Victoria Shaljian Malatia Youth Center.

 

The Bible Society of Armenia held a quiz at the Youth Center in Malatia


The knowledge test was attended by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, accompanied by the confreres of the Mother See, AGBU Central Board member, AGBU Armenia President Vazgen Yakubyan. Questionnaires and databases were compiled from the biblical stories of the Old and New Testaments, and the students of the Youth Center studied them in religion classes.

The relic of Christ’s Cross has been moved to the Holy Cross Church in Aparan


On the feast of the Apparition of the Holy Cross, the sacred relic of Christ’s Cross is being moved from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to the Holy Cross Church in Aparan. The relic was brought from the village of Aparan in the Mokk province of Greater Armenia to the Holy Cross Church in Akhtamar, and then found its resting place in the treasury of the Mother See. The relic is usually kept in the church until the evening, giving everyone the opportunity to commune with the power emanating from the relic.