Author Anush Arakelyan

Hayaser Hayrapetyan

Hayaser Hayrapetyan is from the village of Chartar, Artsakh. He was born in 1992, days after his father's death. After graduating from school, he entered the Fine Arts Department of Artsakh State University, and taught for many years in Chartar and several nearby art schools. He participated in the 44-day war as a volunteer. After the war, he continued to paint, while at the same time, he was transferred to the intelligence service in the "Martuni 3" military unit. On September 19, 2023, he was wounded in the head. After being in a coma for five days, he was taken to Yerevan by resuscitation vehicle. After being wounded, he had trouble speaking, even forgetting to write and read. Hayaser had intended to open a large exhibition in Artsakh, but his paintings and sculptures remained at home. Only a small statuette dedicated to his mother and two paintings with Artsakh landscapes were brought to Armenia.

Rev. Father Paren Arakelyan

Father Paren Arakelyan insists that the voice of the priest always reaches the right place. Every diocese has a responsible clergyman, before reaching the executive priest to the assembly, the priest first listens to the opinions of other priests serving in his diocese, and only then puts them on the table of the assembly for discussion. These questions and suggestions are assigned to a priest, who raises them with the Patriarch. Father Paren, the spiritual pastor of Saghmosavank, considers the claim that the voice of the priests is not heard to be false. He is sure that the life of the church is organized and there is no need to reorganize it. According to him, those who exclude themselves from the church are deviating. Church servants are obliged to follow and obey the rules and regulations, which are the backbone of the church.

On the occasion of the feast of Saint Hakob Mtsbna, his right-shaped relic was moved to Gyumri

The Armenian Church celebrated the commemoration day of Saint Hakob Mtsbna, the hermit Maruge, and Bishop Melitos. The faithful went from the yard of the Yotverk Church in Gyumri to Saint Hakob Church, where they prayed for the imprisoned Bishops Michael, Bagrat, Mkrtich, and Arshak, for the benefactor Samvel Karapetyan, for the defense of the homeland and the Church, for the Armenians held in prisons in Armenia and Baku.

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.

The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the commemoration day of Saint Abgar the Patriarch

On the occasion of the holiday, the clergy of the Aragatsotn and Artik dioceses and the faithful of the community visited the Yotverq Church in Gyumri. The celebrant was Father Hovhannes Torgomyan, a monk of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and spiritual director of the Izmirlian Medical Center. The faithful and the clergy prayed for the imprisoned Bishops Michael, Bagrat, Mkrtich, Arshak, benefactor Samvel Karapetyan, and all those illegally imprisoned.

The Patriarch's housing-construction program

Under the direction of the Catholicos of All Armenians, the Social Services Office of the Mother See has donated 19 apartments to earthquake-affected families from Gyumri, Spitak, and other vulnerable areas over the past ten years, and provided 6 apartments to Armenian families from Artsakh. His Holiness keeps the issues of priests’ living in the center of his attention. In the summer of 2005, the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Christian charitable organization “Habitat International” announced a joint fight against homelessness in Armenia. Assistance was provided to 42 communities, 108 families regained their hope and optimism for life. The program not only helped to complete half-built buildings, but also taught people to appreciate support, to reciprocate what they received, if necessary, by extending a helping hand to another person in need.

With the assistance of the Catholicos of All Armenians, a disabled soldier will receive a prosthetic leg in India

Students of the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary Defended Their Master's Theses

Father Maghakia Gevorgyan

Father Maghakia Gevorgyan, who has served in the Aragatsotn diocese for more than 25 years, has never seen persecution of priests or violation of their rights in the church. He has never heard from the leaders that they should be silent or tolerate injustices occurring in the church; on the contrary, they have always had opportunities to raise issues. He believes that priesthood teaches humility.

A memorial service was held at the Mother See in memory of Sargis and Amalia Karapetyans

At the end of the Sunday liturgy, a prayer was offered for the imprisoned Bishops Michael, Bagrat, and Mkrtich, for the benefactor Samvel Karapetyan, and for our compatriots held in prisons in Armenia and Baku for the defense of the homeland and the church. Under the presiding authority of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, a requiem mass was held in memory of the late Sargis and Amalia Karapetyans. The parents of national benefactor Samvel Karapetyan were distinguished educators, having educated several generations in their birthplace, Lori.