Celebration of the Holy Nativity and Theophany in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On January 6, on the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Mother Cathedral by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

Under the ringing of the bells of the Mother Cathedral, under canopy, a Pontifical Procession led the Catholicos of All Armenians, and Republic of Armenia President Serzh Sargsian; from the Catholicosate of All Armenians to the Mother Cathedral.

The Canopy bearers were: the benefactors of the Armenian Church, Mr. Michael and Karen Vardanyan; Mr. Aram Ananyan, Director of “Armenpress” news agency and Mr. Tigran Davtyan, Executive Director of “Converse Bank” CJSC.

His Grace Bishop Hovnan Hakobian, Grant Sacristan of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin; and His Grace Bishop Mushegh Babayan, Operations Director of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin; assisted His Holiness during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

During the Pontifical Liturgy the Catholicos of All Armenians extended His Pontifical Message to All Armenians worldwide, conveying to everyone the Good News “Christ is Born and Revealed”.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness offered the service of Blessing of the Waters in commemoration of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. The Godfather of the Cross this year was Commander, Colonel Jalal Harutyunyan (NKR Defense Army). After the Divine Liturgy, the Cross of the Mother Cathedral will be taken to different military units.

Present for the Divine Liturgy were: Mr. Galust Sahakyan, President of the National Assembly (Parliament) of the Republic of Armenia; Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia; NA deputies; State Ministers of the Republic of Armenia; high-ranking state officials; members of the Supreme Spiritual Council; foreign diplomats and representatives accredited to Armenia and representative from the fields of education, science and culture and public figures.

Following the conclusion of the Liturgy, an official reception was held in the Alec and Marie Manoogian Treasury House Museum, where the Catholicos of All Armenians offered his blessings and best wishes to those present on the occasion of Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

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