Pilgrimage Day at St. Mariane Church in Ashtarak, Dedicated to the Female Saints


On September 22, a festive Divine Liturgy was celebrated at St. Mariane Church in Ashtarak, dedicated to the feast commemorating the female saints—Peprone, Mariane, and Shushanik—which also marks the church's pilgrimage day.
With the blessing of Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, Primate of the Aragatsotn Diocese, the Liturgy was celebrated by Bishop Anania Tsaturyan, Grand Sacristan of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, with the participation of clergy from the Aragatsotn Diocese, nuns from the Ghazaravan Convent, and numerous pilgrims.
 

The Armenian Pontiff Received Pilgrims from the Syriac Orthodox Church Arriving from the USA


On September 22, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received pilgrims from the Syriac Orthodox Church arriving from the USA, led by Father Joseph Shamoun, pastor of St. Mark’s Cathedral in New Jersey.
His Holiness reflected on the close and warm relations between the Armenian Apostolic and Syriac Orthodox Sister Churches and offered his blessing to the pilgrims, expressing confidence that the pilgrimage would serve as an occasion for spiritual renewal.
 

Anniversary of the Consecration of the Holy All-Savior Church Celebrated in Aragatsavan


On September 21, the anniversary of the consecration of the Holy All-Savior Church was celebrated in the village of Aragatsavan, part of the enlarged Talin community. To mark the occasion, priests from the Diocese of Aragatsotn brought a relic of the Lord’s Holy Cross from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to the church. The celebrant of the Divine Liturgy was Father Hayk Sahakyan; in his sermon, he noted that the day had become a triple celebration for the community, uniting the anniversary of the church's consecration, the 35th anniversary of Armenia's independence, and the joy of welcoming the relic of the Holy Cross into the church for the first time.

Newly Built Church in Byureghavan Consecrated by the Catholicos of All Armenians


On September 19, the newly built Holy Mother of God (Surb Astvatsatsin) Church in the city of Byureghavan (Kotayk Diocese) was consecrated by Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. The church was constructed through the benefaction of Russia-based brothers Mkhitar and Yuri Aroyan, based on a design by architect Edik Poghosyan.
Clergy of the Mother See, diocesan prelates of the Armenian Church, and numerous pilgrims participated in the consecration ceremony.
In his paternal message, the Catholicos of All Armenians emphasized that the Lord’s sanctuaries are built and consecrated through faith, and that the spiritual unity of the faithful is strengthened around them.

Feast of the Holy Cross at the Zoravor Surb Astvatsatsin Church in Apna


On September 13—the Feast of the Holy Cross—the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Zoravor Holy Mother of God Church in the village of Apna (Aragatsotn Diocese) by Rev. Fr. Maghakia Gevorgyan. The faithful venerated a relic of the Holy Cross of Jesus Christ, brought from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The day also marked the anniversary of the church's consecration; the sanctuary had been consecrated five years earlier by the Diocesan Primate, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan.

 

Two-Day Concert Program Dedicated to Hrair Hovnanian’s 96th Birthday


On September 11 and 12, a two-day open-air concert program dedicated to Hrair Hovnanian’s 96th birthday was held in the courtyard of the Katoghike Holy Mother of God and Saint Anna churches, organized by the Hovnanian Family Foundation.
Pianist Hayk Melikyan and the Komitas Choir of the Komitas Conservatory performed on September 11, while the qanun players' ensemble of the "Hrach and Susan Toufayan" Center for Armenian Youth (Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin) and the "Nairyan" vocal ensemble performed on September 12.

 

Two-Day Concert Program in the Courtyard of Saint Anna Church


On September 11, the Hovnanian Family Foundation hosted a concert evening in the courtyard of the Katoghike Holy Mother of God and Saint Anna churches—located at the intersection of Abovyan and Sayat-Nova streets—to mark the 96th birth anniversary of the foundation's founder, the American-Armenian philanthropist Hrair Hovnanian. The event featured performances by pianist Hayk Melikyan and the "Komitas" Choir of the Komitas Conservatory.
The program continues on the evening of September 12 with performances by the "Hrach and Susan Tufayan" Qanun Quartet and the "Nairyan" Vocal Ensemble.

The Feast of the Birth of the Holy Mother of God Celebrated at the Mother Cathedral


On September 8, a festive Divine Liturgy dedicated to the Birth of the Holy Mother of God was celebrated at the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin by Father Andreas Ezekyan. During the sermon, the minister reflected on the beloved image of the Virgin Mary, emphasizing that her birth is one of the most important links in the chain of salvation of humanity.

 

His Holiness the Patriarch received the clergy of the Masyatsotn Diocese


On August 25, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, received clergy of the Masyatsotn Diocese. The Primate of the Diocese, Bishop Ruben Zargaryan, congratulated the Armenian Patriarch on the occasion of his 75th birthday and expressed gratitude for his fatherly care.
His Holiness the Patriarch highly appreciated the spiritual and devoted service of the clergy of the diocese and their unwavering dedication to the Armenian Church in the difficult situation they have created.

 

Blessing of grapes at the Holy Virgin Mary Church in Ghukasavan


A prayer and a Grape Blessing ceremony were held at the renovated and restored Holy Virgin Mary Church in Ghukasavan community, Ararat region, led by the Primate of the Masyatsotn Diocese, Bishop Ruben Zargaryan, with the participation of the spiritual shepherd of the area, Father Grigor Hovhannisyan. 
Archaeologists Artak Gnuni and Levon Mkrtchyan participated in the restoration work, which began four years ago on the initiative of Vache Topuzyan. The restoration project was authored by architect Amiran Badishyan, and the project was supervised by Garegin Knyazyan.

Kanachut St. Gevorg Church Celebrates Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Grape Blessing


On the occasion of the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Bishop Ruben Zargaryan, Primate of the Diocese, celebrated a liturgy at the St. Gevorg Church in the Kanachut community of the Masyatsotn Diocese and performed a Grape blessing ceremony. 
During his sermon, the Bishop expressed his appreciation to the spiritual minister of this pastoral ministry, Father Beniamin Tsaturyan, the community members and the pilgrims.

15th Anniversary of the Consecration of the Holy Nshan Church in Berkarat


On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the consecration of the Holy Nshan Church in the village of Berkarat, Aragatsotn region, a Holy and Immortal Liturgy was served. The celebrant was Father Nshan Alaverdyan, and the spiritual pastor of the area was Father Hayk Kocharyan.
Under the Pontifical direction of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and with the blessing of the Primate of the Diocese, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, a rite of the Andastan was performed with the Khachatryan Relic of Jesus Christ brought to Berkarat from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.