Author Sona Khachatryan

62 teachers arriving in Armenia from 15 countries of the world had a meeting with Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II in Karekin I Educational Center.  They are in Armenia to attend the one-month training course organized by Abovyan State Pegagogical University.

The last days of the past week were replete with meetings with the youth arriving to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin as pilgrims from different diaspora Armenian Diocese. The pilgrims come from France, Argentina, Eastern Diocese of the US.  

 

It's been third year, since the youth of Tavush Diocese by the initiative of Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the Primate of Tavush Diocese, implement events dedicated to Haghartsin Week. This year the young volunteers meet the  guests, tourists and locals arriving in Haghartsin from August 6-11. They want to make Tavush recognizable not only as a territory under the direct target of the enemy, but also proclaim the spiritual and cultural values of the Monastic Complex.

Among other Churches of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Grigor Lusavorich Cathedral in Yerevan also hosted a Festive Divine Liturgy. The Cathedral was crowded with people along with the Christians and pilgrims: this is one of the oldest Feasts dedicated to the Holy Mother of God, one of the 4 Tabernacle feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The sacrament of the Feast is more than real today.

 

The Mother Cathedral was crowded for the Sunday Divine Liturgy. Christian believers and pilgrims from different communities, guests, tourists have hurried to the spiritual center for praying, receiving the blessing, and also having one common reason for concern.  The believers were especially concerned with the New Armenia, New Patriarch initiative: some of them were praying for peaceful settlement of the issue.

 

In the high hills of Nork, there is a small chapel called Narek in the garden of Apetnakyan family neighboring an apple tree. The tree and adjacent area were burnt, but the apple tree blossomed again, in this season. Vladimir Apetnakyan, the gardener with many years of experience, shared the story of miracle with us.

On July 15, the Patriarch of All Armenians received the pilgrims from Egypt and Western Diocese of the USA.

 

On July 12, the Catholicos of All Armenians received 2 groups of pilgrims. The first group was from Brazil, a group of Brazilian Armenian young people were in Armenia for 12 days. The young people were lead by the spiritual pastor of the Armenian Diocese of Brazil Bishop Nareg Berberian. The second group of pilgrims visiting the Patriarch was the newly established community of Yerevan Arabkir - the women's union, the students of the Sunday School, members of Youth Union. By the leadership of Father Babken Hayrapetyan, the youth of Arabkir started their pilgrimage from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

 

The children and students of Ashtarak Armenian Youth Center English class are sure that languages have a uniting, peace-carving role. In practice, the opinions of children on the need to know English vary widely. Teachers use modern methods, however the most effective of all is the method of encouragement, which can turn even the laziest student almighty. 

 

The students of dhol class tell us how and why they chose dhole, the techniques of playing it, the difficulties, their preferred rhythms, concerts, future plans etc.