Ground-blessing service for the Candle-Lighting Hall and Pontificial Burial Chamber at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On November 14, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians: and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Great House of Cilicia, a Ground-blessing service was held for the Candle-Lighting Hall and Pontificial Burial Chamber.

The Candle-Lighting Hall and Pontificial Burial Chamber is built by the sponsorship of Mr. and Mrs. Karnig and Anahit Yacoubian of Canada, benefactors of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The architects are Aslan Mkhitaryan, Hayk Mkrtchyan and Artavazd Nazaretyan, and the construction is being carried out by the Horizon 95 company.

The service was attended by Bishops attending the most recent Bishops Synod, members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, benefactors of the Mother See; Mr. Narek Sargsyan, RA Minister of Urban Development and Chairman of the architectural council of the Mother See; Mr. Arev Samuelyan, Deputy Minister of Culture; and other invitees.

The Foundation Blessing Service was offered by His Eminence Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan, Vicar of the Araratian Pontificial Diocese. His Grace Bishop Moushegh Babayan, Director of the Administrative Office of the

Mother See; read the commemorative scroll written in honor of the foundation blessing service of the construction: “On November 14, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Great House of Cilicia, a Ground-blessing service for the Candle-Lighting Hall and Pontificial Burial Chamber was held, in the presence of the Bishop’s Synod, the Brotherhood of the Mother See, benefactors and faithful.

Deserving children of our Holy Apostolic Church, in this chapel being built by the heartfelt charity of the pious and patriotic Karnig and Anahit Yacoubian, our faithful sons will offer their prayers to God with candle lighting, asking His blessings upon their lives, the Church and the nation. This place of prayer will also be a resting place for our Patirachs’ remains and the prayers of our people will always heard, here bringing peace to the Patriarch’s souls.

May the Lord keep our Apostolic Holy Church prosperous and bright, bless our homeland and people, our benefactor sons and daughters, and always maintain us under his Holy Right”.

The Catholicos of All Armenians offered his blessings to the participants on this occasion. “At this moment, our soul rejoices with joy. By the blessings of God and prayers of the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, Bishop’s Synod, members of the Brotherhood of the Mother See, benefactors and the faithful; the Ground-blessing service for the Candle-Lighting Hall and Pontificial Burial Chamber was held on the spot where our sons and daughters will come and light candles and pray for God to raise their nation and homeland. … Their prayers will also rise for our 131Pontiffs by whose wise leadership our people have faced all difficulties, and now live under an open sky; again fighting for the protection of our national existence”, said the Catholicos of All Armenians.

In his remarks, His Holiness expressed his appreciation to the pious Yacoubian family. With the assistance of national benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Karnig and Anahit Yacoubian, the Vazgenyan Seminary became a reality and years ago as a new building of the seminary was constructed.
His Holiness Karekin II also extended his blessings to the architectural council members of the Mother See, the architects and the constructors for their devoted efforts; asking that Lord that the construction work of the new structure come to a successful completion.
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia offere his remarks on this occasion, warmly welcoming this and all the programs and new construction, that have realized in recent years in Mother See. The Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia stressed that every program concerning the nation, the church and the homeland has a vital significance and promotes the brightening of the Church, strengthening of the nation and unity.

At the end, under the singing of the hymns, a capsule containing the the commemorative scroll was placed in the construction of the foundation of the building.

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