On the Pilgrimage Day of St. Mary Monastery and Eve of the Feast of the Assumption of Virgin Mary, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I presided over the Divine Liturgy held on the open-air Altar of the Monastery, in Bikfaya. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the Prelate of Lebanon, H.E. Arch. Shahe Panossian. During the…
Under the auspices of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, the 106th anniversary of the First Independence of the Republic of Armenia was marked on Sunday, May 25, 2024, at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. H.E. Archbishop Torkom Donoyan celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered a sermon. During the ceremony, His Holiness presided…
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I presided over and conducted the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, March 31st, 2024, to celebrate the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral at the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias. During his homily, His Holiness referenced John 16:33, emphasizing Christ’s victory over…
Presided over by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, on the eve of Easter, Saturday, March 30th, the Easter Vigil service (Jrakaluyts) took place during the Divine Liturgy, conducted by the Cathedral’s grand sacristan, HE Arch. Gomidas Ohanian. At the conclusion of the service, the grand sacristan lit a candle from the altar and presented it…
On the evening of March 29th, 2024, a solemn service marked Good Friday, recalling the burial of our Lord Jesus Christ, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. His Holiness Catholicos Aram I presided over the service and delivered his message. Quoting 1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous…
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I led the somber vigil service of Maundy Thursday, marking the Passion of Christ, on March 28th, 2024, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. The service included readings from the Bible and Gospel, the extinguishing of 12 candles, recitation of hymns, and the poignant song “Where are you, my mother?” evoking…
On March 28th, 2024, Holy Thursday observances commenced at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, presided over by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. The day began with the Canon of Repentance followed by the morning Eucharist, leading up to the Washing of the Feet Service in the afternoon, and concluding with the evening service…
On Great and Holy Tuesday, during the evening service, the Armenian Church commemorated the parable of the Ten Maidens, in Antelias. Per tradition, during the Gospel reading, ten young students from the Catholicosate Sunday School presented themselves in front of the Altar holding candles; the five ‘wise’ women were prepared to wait for the ‘bridegroom’…
On the evening of Palm Sunday, March 24th, 2024, the Opening of the Portals ceremony took place at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, presided over by His Holiness Aram I. HE Arch. Shahan Sarkissian conducted the ceremony, symbolizing the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the opening of the door of Salvation. Archbishop Shahan quoted…
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I presided over the Palm Sunday celebration at the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias on Sunday, March 24th, 2024. Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian celebrated the Divine Liturgy and led the traditional procession, with children, young adults, and all other faithful holding olive branches and following the clergy and…
Under the auspices of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia observed the Feast of St. Gregory the Illuminator’s Descent into the Pit (Khor Virab) and the Catholicosate’s Pilgrimage Day on March 17th and 18th, 2024, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. On Sunday, March 18th, the Divine…
During the Antelias Pilgrimage Day, sacred relics housed in the Cilicia Museum are unveiled for the faithful. As such, on March 16th, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, along with the Cilician Brotherhood, took out from the Cilicia Museum relics of several saints from the rich heritage of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. Notably, during the Divine…
On the evening of March 16th, 2024, a vigil service marked the eve of the Antelias Pilgrimage Day, which coincides with the feast commemorating St. Gregory the Illuminator’s descent into the Dungeon (Khor Virab). His Holiness Aram I presided over the service and delivered a sermon emphasizing the significance of spiritual rebirth, led by St.…
