The court hearing in the case of the participants of the "Holy Struggle": 16.10.25


The regular October 16 court hearing on the case of the participants of the "Holy Struggle" was held behind closed doors.

 

At the end of the evening service, a procession began from the St. Mesrop Church in Erebuni


Led by priests, the faithful walked to the Erebuni Museum, then returned to the church. On the way back, the number of pilgrims increased. At the end of the pilgrimage, the Andastan service was performed in the church yard. The priest blessed the four corners of the world with the cross and the Gospel, and asked the Lord for blessings and peace.

Defenders petition to stop criminal prosecution of participants in the Holy Struggle


The defense has filed a motion with the court to terminate the criminal prosecution of all 18 supporters of the struggle and to dismiss the proceedings, based on the lack of evidence of a crime. It has presented the manipulations of high-ranking officials, publications by pro-government media outlets, and successive searches.

The relic of the cross of Christ has been moved to the St. George Church in Kosh


With the blessing of the Patriarch of All Armenians and the initiative of the Primate of the Aragatsotn Diocese, this is the second year that a relic has been transferred to the St. Gevorg Church. Last year, pilgrims also communed with the relic of the commander St. Gevorg. Those present at the liturgy - the godfather of the cross, benefactors, and pilgrims - communed with the relic.

 

Based on the fabricated recording, the defense attorney of Archbishop Bagrat challenged the prosecution


The defense attorney of the archbishop, Hovhannes Khudoyan, stated in court that the statements attributed to the archbishop in the famous recording about “shooting two people, imprisoning 15 people, and burning a bus” are a forgery. Hovhannes Khudoyan was also joined by other defense attorneys. Judge Karen Farkhoyan rejected the motion to disqualify the prosecutors. The next court hearing in the “Holy Struggle” case will be held on October 9.

The court will announce the verdict in the case of Archbishop Michael on October 3.


The public prosecutor did not present any mitigating or aggravating circumstances for Archbishop Michael's sentence and requested that the bishop be sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison. The defense believes that the authorities are pursuing political persecution against Archbishop Michael.

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 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.

More than 60 children baptized in Gegharkunik on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross


On the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, more than 60 children were baptized in three churches of the Gegharkunik Diocese: Makenyak Monastery, Vardenis and the Holy Mother of God Church in the village of Mets Masrik. They had participated in Bible courses organized in the diocese. Switzerland-based Teresa Mkhitaryan presented baptismal crosses and the Holy Bible to the baptized.