St. Gregory the Illuminator is the Patron Saint of the Armenian Church. He is referred to as Illuminator for spreading the light of Jesus Christ and formally establishing the Armenian Church. St. Gregory underwent passion and was prisoned in a pit (Khor Virab) for more than a decade. The Armenian Church commemorates the feast of St. Gregory the Illuminator’s descent into the pit on the Sunday of the Advent. On this feast, the Holy See of Cilicia also marks the Catholicosate’s Pilgrimage Day.

On that account, on Sunday, April 3^rd, 2022, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I presided over the Divine Liturgy celebrated by H.E. Archbishop Gomidas Ohanian, who also delivered the message of the feast underlining the importance of saints in our lives to strengthen our faith by following their examples.

Following the service, the Catholicos led a traditional procession with the relic of the right hand of St. Gregory around the courtyard of the Catholicosate and returned to the Altar to celebrate blessing of the water by the relic.

The relic of St. Gregory the Illuminator and of Catholicoi Saints; Nicholaos and St. Seghpestros (Sylvester), remained on the Altar for the people to venerate.