The first home-blessing of the year was performed in the Residency after the Candlelight Liturgy


The salt, bread, and water were blessed by Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Archbishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, and Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan. The ceremony was attended by the Brotherhood and clergy of the Mother See. According to the ritual adopted from today, the clergy will visit the homes of the faithful, bless the goods of the house, and convey the good news of the Holy Nativity.

Christmas Candlelight Liturgy celebrated at the Mother Cathedral


The liturgy of the Nativity of Christ was celebrated in the Mother Cathedral under the presiding authority of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. The pre-Christmas service was celebrated with the singing of Christmas hymns and the reading of the Gospel prophecies announcing the birth of the Son of God. Lighting lanterns and candles, the faithful took the blessed good news to their homes and passed on the joyful news of Christmas to each other.

Clay angels, bells


Potter Tatev Ghaltakhchyan believes that angels have auspicious meaning for Christmas, and they herald peace and good news, while bells represent a new beginning. She creates all the symbols of Christmas using clay: bells, candles, angels, and fir trees.

Rev. Fr. Husik Nurijanyan


What spiritual songs are there dedicated to Christmas? 
What does the added part at the bottom of the Orthodox church cross symbolize? 
How is the name of the church determined? 
What is the meaning of the forty-day fast of the deceased? 
What does the Holy Bible say about gifts? 
Should we eat or keep the blessed pomegranate? 
 
Father Husik Nurijanyan answered the questions of viewers and users. Write your questions on the “Questions and Answers” ​​Facebook page.

Humanism


Humanism is the breath of the planet Earth, one of the most important virtues of knowing God. Deacon Karo Gharibyan and Armen Martirosyan share their reflections and life experiences.

Akhtala


The estate-farm and monastery of the princes of the Gugark world have been known to historians since the 5th century. In later centuries, when copper mines were discovered here, Agarak was renamed Pghndzahank, and the monastery was renamed Pghndzahank Monastery. The settlement and church named Akhtala have been mentioned in historical sources since the 14th century.
 

"Kakavik", "Ladybug", "Song-fairytale"


The students of the "Yergategh" studio, along with singer and songwriter Hasmik Baghdasaryan-Dolukhanyan, performed various songs by contemporary Armenian composers, folk songs, and Komitas at the "Loft" self-development and entertainment center. The children sang the songs "Fist-palm", "Dwarves", "In the forest" and "Let's sing and count" by contemporary composers Zemfira Yeganyan and Geghuni Chtchyan.

"Spacing"


"Spacing" is a song by Gagik Aghababyan. The students of the "Yergdat" studio, together with singer and songwriter Hasmik Baghdasaryan-Dolukhanyan, perform songs by contemporary Armenian composers, folk songs, and songs by Komitas. Along with singing, the children train their bodies by performing a small performance in accordance with the song using hand and foot play.

The gala concert marking the 30th anniversary of the Youth Center was held at the Sundukyan National Academic Theater


The students of the Armenian Youth Houses of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Armenian General Benevolent Union presented all branches of performing arts at the National Academic Theater: song, dance, classical and national instruments, theater and circus. About 500 young people of different ages from eight Armenian Youth Houses operating in the communities of Armenia performed a common concert program. It was planned to be organized a year ago, in September. The anniversary concert was postponed due to the forced displacement in Artsakh.

The Holy Mother of God monastery in Akhtala


"Me, Mariam, daughter of Kyurike, have erected a bronze altar to the Holy Mother of God. You who worship, remember my prayer to us.” The khachkar with this inscription, created by order of Princess Mariam, is in the courtyard of Akhtala; it is the de facto passport of the monastery. The khachkar, made in 1188, is tangible evidence of attempts by foreigners, especially Georgians, to appropriate the monastery at different times and of the settlement of disputes. The Akhtala monastery is the largest monastery in the region named after the Mother of God. It is also one of the richest monasteries in frescoes: 960 square meters of unique medieval frescoes have come down to us, which have never been restored in 800 years.

The Holy Savior church of Gyumri


The Church of the Holy Savior, considered one of the symbols of Gyumri, celebrates the 150th anniversary of its construction this year. It is said that the people of Gyumri dreamed of having a church similar to the Mother Cathedral of Ai and began collecting donations for its construction in the 1850s. The church, built in 1873 with great difficulties and expectations, ceased to function in the 1930s under the coercion of the Soviet authorities, and in 1937 the Bolsheviks blew up the bell tower. The final blow to the Church of the Holy Savior was the devastating earthquake of 1988, when the church collapsed. After many years of restoration, the restoration of the Church of the Holy Savior was completed in 2024 and was reconsecrated under the auspices of the Armenian Patriarch.

Hovhannes Aslanyan


Hovhannes Aslanyan, an anesthesiologist and resuscitator who has lived through three Artsakh wars, remembers each episode with emotion and feeling. Doctors gathered from different parts of the world performed their work together during the war with great responsibility.