The Hrach and Susan Armenian Youth Center of Echmiadzin concluded 2025 with a festive concert


The festive concert featured performances by the dhol players, kanon players, violinists, and dance classes. There are 7 Armenian orphanages and one miniature art center in Armenia. 2,631 children study in these institutions. They gain skills in the fields of art, sports, and learn languages.

Information vacuum regarding the situation of Armenians illegally detained in Baku


What is the situation of our prisoners of war and other detained compatriots in Baku? What role does their country of citizenship, the Republic of Armenia, play in the demand for a fair trial? What is the progress of Armenia's interstate complaint against Azerbaijan at the International Court of Justice? Anna Sargsyan spoke with Siranush Sahakyan, President of the Center for International and Comparative Law.

The dhol class of the Arabkir Youth Center has won the Grand Prix


The dhol ensemble of the Arabkir Youth Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin participated in the "Kanch" Republican Competition-Festival of Performing Arts and was awarded the Grand Prix. The Arabkir Youth Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and AGBU has 22 classrooms. About 400 children study in music, fine arts, sports, and languages.

The next hearing on the appeal against Archbishop Michael's verdict has been scheduled for January 13


The Criminal Court of Appeals has postponed the hearing of the appeals against the verdict of Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan due to the absence of public prosecutors. Earlier, the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction sentenced Archbishop Mikayel to 2 years in prison. The defense demands that the first instance verdict be overturned, recognizing Archbishop Mikayel's innocence. The prosecutor's office demands that the term of imprisonment of the archbishop be extended by 2 years and 6 months. The Mother See and Archbishop Mikayel claim that the authorities are politically persecuting him.

Religious ties of non-religious people and non-believers with the Armenian Apostolic Church: A new book


Historian Stepan Stepanyants has addressed the religious ties of non-Armenian and non-religious people with the Armenian Apostolic Church in the 19th and 20th centuries in a new work. The 620-page collection of documents was published by the Publishing House of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The author compiled, translated, annotated the collection and wrote a foreword. The documents collected show that many Jews living in the Russian Empire in the 19th century decided to be baptized and convert to Christianity.

The students of the Youth Center's dance, dhol and qanon classes toured 20 US states


The students of the dance, dhol and kanon classes of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Hrach and Susan Tufayan Youth Center presented Armenian dance and music in the United States. The concert series was not only a cultural tour, but also a great celebration of Armenian identity and art. In the institutions where the "ArmFolkGroup" performed, the works of the students of the Youth Center painting classes were exhibited.

The club indoor championship will determine the top ten athletes of the year


The 9th closed championship of the Traditional Karate Club "Zeytun" was held in the gymnasium of the Arabkir Youth Center. For about four years, one of the club's 9 branches has been operating under the roof of the Arabkir Youth Center. The sport enjoys great popularity. Students of different ages attend. There are more than 250 athletes in the competition arena. 30 of them are students of the Arabkir Youth Center karate class.

The faithful left the Mother See only after the Catholicos returned to the monastery


The group of bishops who arrived at the Mother See by minibus, under the supervision of police officers and people in civilian clothes, tried to read a statement near the Arch of King Trdat, but as a result of the chants of the faithful, their voices were not heard. First, Bishop Anushavan Zhamkochyan tried to spread a statement on behalf of the group of bishops, then Archbishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan. They left the territory of the Mother See accompanied by whistles from the faithful and security forces. The citizens who came to support the Catholicos of All Armenians waited until His Holiness returned from the temple to the cloister, after which they left.

His Holiness the Patriarch left the Mother Cathedral and distributed blessings to everyone


The clergy of the Aragatsotn Diocese participated in the service not in Byurakan, as planned, but in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. During this joint ceremony, those present raised prayers to God for the vigilance of the Armenian Patriarch, the steadfastness of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, the current incarcerated Archbishops Mkrtich, Bagrat, Michael and Arshak, Priest Garegin, and those in unjust imprisonment and captivity. At the end of the ceremony, the Patriarch addressed his fatherly message to the thousands of people gathered in the Mother Cathedral and in the courtyard of the Mother Monastery, who had come to express their support for the church and its enthroned. The Catholicos of All Armenians also addressed the ten bishops, calling on them to return to the canonical field and act only in accordance with the hierarchal order of our Holy Church.

Human rights activists sound the alarm: authorities are violating church rights


Representatives of the executive and legislative bodies of Armenia continue to interfere with the autonomy and freedom of the Church’s activities, violating the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations”, international norms on freedom of religion or belief and precedential decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The authorities’ attempts to interfere in the formation of church governing bodies and internal decision-making are illegal and condemnable.” A number of non-governmental organizations, human rights defenders and public figures have issued a comprehensive statement. Anna Sargsyan spoke with Anna Melikyan, a legal expert from one of the organizations that signed the statement, “Protection of Rights Without Borders”.

Human rights activists sound the alarm: authorities are violating church rights


Representatives of the executive and legislative bodies of Armenia continue to interfere with the autonomy and freedom of the Church’s activities, violating the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations”, international norms on freedom of religion or belief and precedential decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The authorities’ attempts to interfere in the formation of church governing bodies and internal decision-making are illegal and condemnable.” A number of non-governmental organizations, human rights defenders and public figures have issued a comprehensive statement. Anna Sargsyan spoke with Anna Melikyan, a legal expert from one of the organizations that signed the statement, “Protection of Rights Without Borders”.

12 deacons ordained on the day of the commemoration of St. Stephen the Protomartyr


With the blessing of the Patriarch of All Armenians, Bishop Vahan Hovhannisyan ordained 12 deacons at the festive Liturgy on the day of the commemoration of St. Stephen the Protomartyr. The newly ordained deacons, who also serve in various structures of the Mother See, were received by His Holiness Karekin II, Patriarch of All Armenians. At the end of the meeting, His Holiness answered the deacons' questions.