Four-Day Meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council Launches at the Mother See


On September 15, the regular four-day meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council commenced at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, presided over by Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
The agenda includes issues related to the Church's canonical and diocesan life, its statutes, the activities of spiritual-educational institutions, and the strengthening of Christian education within communities, as well as key issues concerning Church-State relations and the 23 ongoing court cases involving the Church.
 

Festive Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at the Mother Cathedral


On September 13, the festive Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross—the last of the five major feasts of the Armenian Church and the principal feast dedicated to the Holy Cross—was celebrated at the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. In his sermon, the celebrant, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, reflected on the historical origins of the Feast of the Exaltation and the life-giving power of the Cross.
In the evening, presided over by the Armenian Pontiff, the sacred relic of the Lord’s Cross—adorned with basil and flowers—was brought out of the Mother Cathedral, and the solemn ceremony of the Exaltation of the Cross and the Andastan service were performed.
 

Catholicos of All Armenians Receives Members of "L'Œuvre d'Orient"


On September 12, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Catholicos of All Armenians received members of the French humanitarian organization "L'Œuvre d'Orient," led by Bishop Hugues de Woillemont.
His Holiness highly commended the organization's 170-year history of service and the consistent support it has provided to Christian communities in the East and to the Armenian people.
 

Catholicos of All Armenians Receives Doctors from the "Luys" Association


On September 11, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Catholicos of All Armenians received a delegation led by Levon Khachatryan, President of the French "Luys" Association, comprising both Armenian and French doctors. From September 5 to 8, the association had carried out a medical-humanitarian mission in remote border villages of the Tavush region, and during the meeting, the Supreme Patriarch highly commended the doctors' noble commitment and their activities in Armenia.
 

The Story of a Carpet: Initiative Members at the Mother See


At the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians received the participants of the “The Story of a Carpet” initiative, who, under the leadership of the spiritual director of the Youth Center, Father Harutyun Vardapet Kirakosyan, presented the Armenian Patriarch with a unique dragon carpet made by the students of the Youth Center in Arabkir during one academic year.
His Holiness thanked the AGBU and the participants of the initiative and conveyed his blessing and appreciation to the spiritual director of the Youth Center, the priestly class, the directors, and the educators.

 

On the occasion of Artsakh Independence Day, a Prayer for Peace was held at the Mother Cathedral


On September 2, on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Artsakh, a Prayer for Peace was held at the Mother Cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin under the leadership of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. 
A prayer was offered for the forcibly displaced Armenians of Artsakh, the release of Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku, and the hostage leaders of Artsakh, as well as the memory of the brave soldiers who died in the Artsakh wars.

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.

The Brotherhood and Officials of the Mother See Congratulated the Patriarch of All Armenians on His 75th Birthday


On August 21, the episcopal order, priests, deacons, secular officials, and young people from the Diaspora congratulated His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, on his 75th birthday at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The Patriarch expressed his gratitude and appreciation to those present, emphasizing that both in the past and now, our spiritual and national life remains strong through the efforts of the clergy and laity.

Defrocked priest Stepan Asatryan testifies at court hearing in the case of Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan


Today, Stepan Asatryan, considered the victim, testified in the case of Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, the Primate of the Aragatsotn Diocese, at the Court of First Instance of the Aragatsotn Region. He claims that the Bishop forced him to participate in opposition rallies and not vote for Pashinyan’s team in the 2021 elections. 
The defense, however, presented at least eight cases when Asatryan was documented to be absent from the aforementioned gatherings, and no evidence proving a specific mechanism of coercion was presented in court. 
The next court hearing was scheduled for October 12, at 12:00, in open court.

Feast of the Assumption, Blessing of Grapes, at the Mother See


Today, the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God brought together thousands of believers in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, on the occasion of which a festive Liturgy was celebrated by Archbishop Haykazun Najaryan, presided over by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. 
At the end of the Liturgy, the pontifical procession moved to the Holy Trdat Open Altar, where the Armenian Patriarch performed the blessing of grapes and, addressing his people around the world, urged: “Continue to build our country with optimism.” After the ceremony, the blessed grapes were distributed to the people.

Prosecutor General Appeals Court of Appeals Decision on Archbishop Michael


Armenian Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan has filed an appeal with the Court of Cassation against the June 25 decision of the Criminal Court of Appeals regarding Archbishop Michael Ajapahyan.
The Prosecutor General disagrees with the decision and is demanding that the Court of Cassation overturn it, the Archbishop’s defense team reports.
 

His Holiness Receives Priests of the Diocese of Aragatsotn and Their Families


On August 13, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, received at the Mother See the priests of the Diocese of Aragatsotn and their families, who have suffered greatly in recent months due to the administrative surveillance of the diocesan primate, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, and the abbot, Father Karekin Arsenyan, as well as the searches and detention of the priests’ homes.
His Holiness emphasized the importance of the meeting as an opportunity to strengthen spiritual ties with the clergy, highly appreciated their unwavering dedication, and concluded by conveying his pontifical blessing, wishing them good health and a prosperous life.