Author Anush Arakelyan

The exhibition "One Year of Eternity" was opened at the Mashtots Matenadaran within the framework of the 3rd International Congress of Armenian Studies, which presents unique manuscripts, ancient books, photographs and archival documents that have been handed over to the center over the past year. 

The Matenadaran funds have also been replenished with new exclusive donations, including the 17th-century "Zhoghovats" manuscript and valuable printed books.

The 3rd International Congress of Armenian Studies has launched at the Matenadaran named after Mashtots, which this year is dedicated to the 350th anniversary of the birth of Mkhitar Sebastatsi.

As part of the event, the agreement on the creation of a digital repository of Armenian manuscripts around the world was extended for another 2 years with the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

On the feast of the Transfiguration of Christ (Vardavar), a pilgrimage was organized under the leadership of the Primate of the Gegharkunik Diocese, Bishop Isahak Poghosyan, to the 11th-13th century Ishkhanavank of Vardenik, where a festive Divine Liturgy was celebrated and the rite of the Andastan was performed.

During the event, the Holy Father presented letters of blessing to the benefactors who supported the improvement of the sanctuary. 

The celebration continued on the top of Mount Armaghan, next to the Church of the Holy Resurrection, where after the Divine Liturgy and the traditional sprinkling of water, national songs and dances were performed.

On July 10, the Catholicos of All Armenians received at the Mother See the pilgrims of the community of the Holy Savior Church in Ustry, Massachusetts, of the Armenian Eastern Diocese of the USA, led by the spiritual pastor Father Thaddeus Barseghian.

In his blessing speech, the Armenian Patriarch emphasized the importance of the support of Armenians in the Diaspora for their sisters and brothers in their homeland and urged them to keep their families Armenian and strengthen the Mother Church with faith.

The ancestors of the pilgrims are the descendants of Armenians who took refuge there after the Hamidian massacres and the Genocide, mainly from Kharpert and Erzincan, who, having migrated to the USA, founded the first Armenian church in the United States and the entire Western Hemisphere.

A student of the 4th auditorium of the Vazgenyan Theological Academy, a graduate of the Panos Terlemezyan Fine Arts College, Thaddeus Vardanyan chose his spiritual path as a form of gratitude for the gift of painting he received from God.

In a special studio opened with the support of the school's supervisory staff, the young man made the transition from the previous secular landscapes and portraits to the complex world of canonical icon painting.

Today, Thaddeus has been working on the large-scale icon "Christ the Almighty" for about a year, confident that each icon is a "window to God."

The Harichavank Monastery is undergoing diagnostic, cleaning, restoration, and conservation work on the “Odigitria” fresco, created in 1235. 

After solving the waterproofing and humidity problems, architect Ara Zaryan and Belgian specialist Christine Lamouret are working on strengthening the preserved parts of the fresco. 

It is planned to reproduce the original, complete appearance of the fresco through artificial intelligence and light projection.

The relic of the Cross of the Lord was kept in Hayravank until the 18th century, then due to the earthquake, the monks of the monastery moved the relic to Echmiadzin. The relic returned to Hayravank for the first time since the 19th century in 2018, opening a new chapter in the monastery’s modern history and laying the foundation for the annual pilgrimage tradition.

After completing their four-year education, students from Sevan's Vazgenyan Seminary receive a bachelor's degree and have the opportunity to continue their studies at any university in Armenia. Statistics show that the majority of graduates prefer to continue their studies at the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary. This year, 67 students are studying in six classrooms, 11 of whom have graduated from the religious institution.

The academic year was concluded by 67 students, 11 of whom are graduates of the seminary and have already been ordained deacons. At the end of the event, the Catholicos of All Armenians conveyed the pontifical message and blessing to those present, highly appreciating the diligent work of the inspection staff of the religious educational institutions of the Mother See. His Holiness emphasized that each academic year is a new page of success recorded in the history of the educational institution.

On July 1, the “Promise” project was officially launched at the Mesrop Mashtots Matenadaran, the brainchild of Armen Ghazaryan, director of the “Promise” Foundation. The goal is to create handmade silver and gold crosses from a specially developed alloy.

Each cross contains crushed particles of blessed stones collected from various holy sites. 

Part of the proceeds from the sale of the crosses will be directed through the “Promise” Foundation to implement educational, cultural and other public benefit programs.