The cross bearing the relics of the Apostle Thomas has been moved from the Mother See to the Holy Mother of God Church in Hrazdan


The memory of the apostles Thomas, James, and Simon was celebrated at the Holy Mother of God Church in the Vanatur district of Hrazdan. The faithful participated in the Cross procession, which started from both sides of the city. With the blessing of the Catholicos of All Armenians, the cross bearing the relics of the apostle Thomas was brought to Hrazdan from the vault of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

A liturgy was served at the Church of the Holy Mother of God on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary


The sacred ceremony was accompanied by Bible readings, admonitions, sermons, and prayers. After receiving communion, the faithful participated in the Blessing of the Grapes. This ceremony blesses the harvest and goodness of the entire year.

The relic of the Cross of Jesus Christ has been transferred from the Mother See to St. Thaddeus Church


On August 2, a Liturgy was celebrated in the St. Thaddeus Church in the city of Masis on the occasion of the commemoration of St. Thaddeus the Apostle and the Virgin Sandukht. In response to the appeal of the Primate of the Diocese of Masyatsotn, His Grace Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, with the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, the relic of the Cross of Jesus Christ was brought from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to the St. Thaddeus Church.

In Gyumri, believers made a pilgrimage from St. Jacob Church to the Holy Savior Church


With the blessing of Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, Primate of the Shirak Diocese, a pilgrimage was held from Gyumri’s St. Hakob Church to the Holy Saviour Church on the eve of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ. Before the pilgrimage, the faithful participated in the evening service and general confession at the St. Hakob Church. Rev. Father Tatev Marukyan noted that the purpose of the pilgrimage is self-purification and spiritual healing. The priest urged the faithful to never despair, to pray and not to doubt the power of prayer.

Participants of the Armenian Studies and Religious Studies course received certificates


The young people have been hosted in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in recent weeks, learning the Armenian language and Armenian history. They have received spiritual and religious knowledge. They have participated in cultural programs, art and craft classes at the Youth Center of Holy Etchmiadzin. The young people, who arrived from Russia, the United States, Great Britain, Brazil, Austria and Georgia, have visited holy places, participated in liturgies in the Mother Cathedral and Sevanavank.

 

Believers at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church prayed for prisoners and those deprived of their liberty


After the evening service, the faithful prayed at the liturgy served at the Mother Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator for the freedom of the captives, the consolation of the dead, and the peace of the country. Father Arnak Harutyunyan noted that during these 4 days, the main prayer of the Holy Liturgy is addressed to God by the faithful, asking that the Lord assist in the release of captives and detainees.

The faithful prayed for the freedom of the prisoners, Samvel Karapetyan, and the archbishops


On July 5, the church will celebrate the feast of the discovery of the relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator. Under the direction of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, on all days of the preceding week, a Liturgy will be served in the St. Gregory the Illuminator Mother Church in Yerevan, during which believers pray for the freedom of the captives, the comfort of the afflicted, and the peace of the homeland. On June 30, believers and clergy prayed for the unjustly imprisoned Archbishops Bagrat and Michael and national benefactor Samvel Karapetyan, who are being illegally persecuted by the authorities of the day and are under arrest.

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


On the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the consecration of the St. Stepanos Church in the village of Chknagh, by the Patriarchal direction of the Catholicos of All Armenians, the relic of Saint Stepanos the Proto-Deacon was transferred from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to Chknagh. The faithful communed with the power emanating from holiness. The celebrant invited the faithful to pray for the illegally detained Archbishops Michael and Bagrat and national benefactor Samvel Karapetyan.

The students of the miniature painting class of the Youth Center won the "Children's Colors" exhibition


Five students from the miniature painting class of the Hrach and Susan Tufayan Youth Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin won first prize in the "Children's Colors" exhibition-competition. The competition was organized by the Union of Artists and the "Daveyan Artcolor" organization. 350 children participated in the exhibition organized by the Union of Artists.

The Church of St. Mesrop in the village of Akunk, Gegharkunik region, has been reconsecrated


The Church of St. Mesrop in Akunk was built in the 15th-17th centuries. During the Soviet years, it was turned into a warehouse. The Tadevosyan brothers began restoring the dilapidated, ruined church years ago, but it remained unfinished. In the end, the sanctuary stood thanks to the large and small donations and joint efforts of the people of Akunk.

On the feast of the Holy Etchmiadzin, after the evening service, the Andastan service was performed


The clergy blessed the four corners of the world, asking the Lord for peace and prosperity. Previously, the Andastan ceremony was performed in the gardens, and fields. The clergy prayed for a peaceful and fruitful year. Now this ritual is performed mainly in the church area. The ceremony was presided over by Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan.

The Brotherhood Assembly will begin in the Mother See on June 17


During the Araratian Week holidays, priests, archimandrites, and proto-archimandrites from Armenia and the Diaspora will participate in the Divine Liturgies and Assembly of the festive week with a prayer gathering. Prior to that, the clergy visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex on June 16, where a
intercessory service was performed.