According to the established tradition, and in response to the invitation of the Prelate and members of the Church Council of the Prelacy of Lebanon, His Holiness Aram I presided over the Mid Lent Service at St. Nishan Church in Beirut. The Seminarians who accompanied the Catholicos chanted the Service.

At the end of the Service the Catholicos delivered his homily. Greeting the faithful and the students of Armenian Schools in the city, who also attended the Service, His Holiness spoke to them about the Light of the Christ. He explained that the Morning Service, which they celebrated, is called Sunrise Service in Armenian, and it corresponds to Christ’s Light signifying the spiritual and ethical Light. He continued that the Bible reminds us that “Light” is synonym to virtuousness, outstanding spirituality and good deeds, and above all: the presence of God. He then advised the students to follow this Light, especially in today’s “dark world.”

At the end of the Service, the Catholicos and the students of the seminary were invited to a  breakfast at “Garbis and Arek Nazarian” Hall. Here also, His Holiness delivered a speech and commended the seminarians for their devotion and service, underlining that the Armenian Theological Seminary is indeed a place for a spiritual baptism where the students receive religious and national baptism.