Ground Blessing Service held for St. Anna Church and Yerevan Pontifical Residence
On July 4, His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians presided during the Ground Blessing service for the St. Anna Church and proposed Yerevan pontifical residence in Yerevan. The new structures will be constructed adjacent to the Holy Kathoghike Church in central Yerevan, on the corner of Sayat-Nova and Abovyan Streets. The Church and pontifical residence are being built due to the generosity of benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Hirair and Anna Hovnanian of the United States. The architect is Mr. Hrach Poghosyan.
Under the singing of church hymns, His Holiness conducted the service of Ground Blessing. Upon the conclusion of the services, he addressed the people in attendance. He stated in part: “In a few years we will feel great joy in consecrating the Church of St. Anna, where our children will come to offer their prayers to God for the stability of our Motherland, and for the blessed and prosperous life of our nation … In erecting the Church of St. Anna, we will mend the Holy Kathoghike Church, the wounds of which are wounds on the soul of our nation. We believe that curing these wounds we will make our national life vibrant, luminous and God-pleasing. We must always glorify God and offer our gratitude and blessings to our Father in Heaven, who instills love within us and grants blessings and prosperity to our nation … during the years of Soviet atheism, the Holy Kathoghike Church faced the same tragic fate of destruction like hundreds of churches in our capital city. But this one small part was spared through the Lord’s mercy, and it has served our faithful for many years. Here Christians have offered their prayers and church services have been celebrated.
The Armenian Pontiff expressed his gratitude to the former President of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Robert Kocharian, for his support and assistance in ensuring the construction of the new church on the property of the historical Holy Kathoghike Church. His Holiness expressed his appreciation and gave his blessings to the benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Hirair and Anna Hovnanian, for their continuous support of the Church and nation. He also thanked President Serzh Sargsian for his attendance and continued support of the Church.
In attendance for the service were; President of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Serzh Sargsian; President of the Republic of Armenia Constitutional Court, Mr. Gagik Harutyunian; Mayor of Yerevan, Mr. Gagik Beglarian; Members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, Members of the Supreme Spiritual Council, national benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Vahakn Hovnanian and the faithful.
