With the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and organized by the Christian Education Department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, a Pilgrimage Week leading to the Pilgrimage Day of St. Mary Monastery on August 12th, 2023 was marked from August 7th to 11th, during which Divine Liturgies, special services, prayers, and Bible studies were conducted.
On Friday morning, August 11th, HG Bishop Mesrob Sarkissian, the UAE and Qatar Prelate, conducted the Antasdan—Blessing of the Four Corners of the World—and Blessing of Salt ceremonies during the Divine Liturgy. Consequently, the Catholicos met with the faithful, gave them his pontifical blessings, and presented them with souvenirs.
In the evening, the faithful were gathered at the Monastery to participate in the sacrifice and the blessing of the grape ceremony preparations for the following day, which were led by V. Rev. Fr. Shnorhk Ashekian.
