Author Hermine Hakobyan

Catholicos of All Armenians meets with the Pope of Rome

During the meeting with the Pope, the Catholicos of All Armenians touched upon the problems of the forcibly displaced Armenians of Artsakh, the preservation of the Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage facing the threat of destruction in Artsakh, and the situation of prisoners of war and hostages. His Holiness presented the Pope with a replica of the Artsakh khachkar. At the end of the meeting, His Holiness invited Pope Leo XIV to Armenia.

The day after the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is the Rememberance of the Dead

A Liturgy was served in the churches, during which a requiem mass was performed in memory of all the deceased. The clergy and the faithful prayed for the peace of the souls of the deceased. At the request of the relatives of the deceased, the clergy blessed the graves.

The Armenian Diocese of Georgia held a traditional Musa Ler harissa festival on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

The festival was organized with the support of the head of the diocese and at the initiative of the “Shushanik” Union of Armenian Women of Georgia. The harissa was prepared by members of the Church-loving Women and the A.G.U.P.E.S Tbilisi” public organization. The harissa festival has been held in the Tbilisi Armenian community since 2012, expanding year by year, turning into a folk festival.

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Vatican, where he will meet with the Pope

The Catholicos of All Armenians left for the Vatican accompanied by Bishop Daniel Findegian, head of the postgraduate department of the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary, Archbishop Garegin Hambardzumian, director of the Department of Inter-Church Relations of the Mother See, Father Yesayi Grigoryan, the cross- bearer of His Holiness the Patriarch, and the director of the Catholicosate Office, Senior Priest Vahram Melikian.

The relic of the cross of Christ has been moved from the Mother See to the Holy Cross Church in Hrazdan

The feast of the Exaltation of the Cross marks the day of the vow of the Holy Cross Church in Hrazdan, because in 2013, it was reconsecrated on the very day of the feast. The Holy Cross was built in the 19th century. It was consecrated in 1922, after which it was reopened in the 90s. The already dilapidated structure could not serve the faithful, and with the efforts of benefactors it was renovated and reconsecrated. On the occasion of the vow day and the anniversary of the reconsecration, the living relic of the Cross of Christ was transferred from the Mother See to the church.

An eventful week in one breath

Farewell to novelist and editor-in-chief of the Marmara daily Robert Hatechyan in Constantinople

The funeral of the famous editor-in-chief took place in the Holy Trinity Church in the Beyoglu district. A national funeral service was held under the direction of the Patriarch of Constantinople. Robert Hatechian's remains were transferred to the Şişli National Cemetery and buried in the family tomb. Robert Hatechian was one of the prominent figures of the Armenian press in Istanbul. From 1967 until his death, he was the editor of the "Marmara" daily newspaper, a publicist whose words and opinions were influential in the Armenian community.

A Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Holy Cross Church in Akhtamar

For the 13th year, on the Sunday before the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, a Liturgy is celebrated at the Holy Cross Church in Akhtamar, attended by pilgrims from all over the world. This year, the celebrant was Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in the United Kingdom. Pilgrims from the Armenian community of Great Britain, led by Bishop Hovakim, set out on a pilgrimage to renew their faith, historical memory, and community ties. The pilgrimage started in Istanbul after receiving the blessing of the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople.

Catholicos of All Armenians Receives Pilgrims from the Eastern Diocese of the North America

Catholicos of All Armenians received the participants of the conference

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin hosted a meeting between His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and participants of the inter-church conference entitled “Living the Faith Today.” His Holiness welcomed the clergy who came to Armenia for the conference commemorating the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. They are representatives of Christian denominations who have come together to speak together about the first Christian ecumenical council and the key issues of the modern world. His Holiness considered the gathering of representatives of sister churches to be important.