Feast of Holy Etchmiadzin

On June 6, the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the Feast of the Universal Holy Church of Etchmiadzin. Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin by Very Rev. Fr Sasoon Zumrookhdian, Vicar of the Pontifical Legate of Western Europe for Spain and Portugal.

Present for the liturgy and celebration were Diocesan Primates, more than 80 members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, and many pilgrims.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Father Sassoon delivered a sermon entitled “Etchmiadizn is our oath”. “The Only Begotten Son of God descended in two places: first in Jerusalem, the second in this sanctuary which has become the Homeland of all Armenians. This Cathedral has become the center of our faith”.

“Let us kneel down and kiss this holy site as the descendants of our nation, and keep in high esteem the name of our Pontiff who inherited the throne of St. Gregory the Illuminator, and support him to lead us into the future”, Father Sassoon stated in part.

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided over the prayer service dedicated to the feast of Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness bent before the Holy Altar of Descent, and along with the faithful, offered prayers to God asking for the steadfastness, welfare and prosperity of Holy Etchmiadzin.

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