Divine Liturgy for the Deceased at the Mother Cathedral


On September 14—the Day of Remembrance for the Deceased following the major feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross—Divine Liturgy and a requiem service were celebrated at the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin by Fr. Grigor Minasyan (Vardapet). Before visiting the cemeteries, the faithful joined in communal prayer, seeking mercy from the Lord, the forgiveness of sins, and repose for the souls of their departed loved ones.

 

The Intersecting Colors of Faith: Robert Elibekyan’s Exhibition at the Matenadaran


The exhibition "The Intersecting Colors of Faith" has opened at the Matenadaran in Yerevan, dedicated to the 85th birthday and 60th anniversary of the creative career of People's Artist of the Republic of Armenia Robert Elibekyan. The exhibition features over 50 works—spanning painting, graphic art, and decorative art created between 1972 and 2017—drawn from the artist's family collection.
A unique feature of the exhibition is that Elibekyan’s contemporary works are juxtaposed, for the first time, with the manuscript illuminations of ancient Armenian masters.
 

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.

 

Does business have an identity?


How is the world moving from globalization to deglobalization, both in the economic and business spheres? It turns out that business is a continuation of geopolitics.
How does Christian leadership differ from just good leadership, and can a businessman be guided by faith and morality? Can being a member of a traditional church hinder doing business with a modern mindset, if the term “Christian leadership” itself originated in Western-Protestant culture? Anna Sargsyan spoke with businessman and social entrepreneur Manuk Hergnyan.
 

The Miraculous Gospel of Sangibaran at the Holy Shoghakat Monastery


Every year, on the feast of St. John the Baptist and Hob the Just, Armenians who moved to Armenia from the Persian province of Periya in 1972 arrive on pilgrimage to the Holy Shoghakat Monastery in Vagharshapat, and the Miraculous Gospel of Sangibaran, proclaimed to have healing powers, is brought to the church from the Matenadaran. The festive Liturgy was served by the spiritual minister of the Holy Shoghakat Monastery, Archimandrite Gabriel Sargsyan.

 

Knowledge Day at the Eurnekian Secondary School


The new academic year began with a symbolic bell at the Eurnekian Secondary School, operating under the auspices of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and the school’s spiritual director, Father Arsen Mirzoyan, congratulated the students, teachers, and parents. The spiritual director of Saghmosavank, Father Paren Arakelyan, also delivered a welcoming speech. This year, the school received 162 applications for admission to the first grade, but due to limited places, 32 children were admitted.

Blessing Ceremony for Education Workers in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin


On August 30, on the occasion of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin by Father Virap Sargsyan. After the Liturgy, the traditional blessing ceremony for education workers took place under the presiding authority of His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians.
Ahead of the new 2026-2027 academic year, representatives of educational institutions, educators, as well as the teaching staff of the Eornekian Secondary School visited the Mother See to receive a Pontifical blessing.

Press conference of Archbishop Bagrat and lawyers


On August 21, a press conference was held at the residence of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, where he is under house arrest, with the participation of lawyers Tatevik Soghoyan and Hovhannes Khudoyan, during which the communication with the UN expert group regarding the “Holy Struggle” and the events of June 12, 2024 was discussed.
The lawyers once again emphasized that the response of the UN expert group also confirms that the “Holy Struggle” case has no connection with terrorism and was initiated exclusively for political reasons.

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.