Pastoral Visits to Armenian Detention Facilities
January 2014
On the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Prison Ministry Program of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin conducted pastoral visitations of clergy to the Detention facilities of the Republic of Armenia. The visitations were led by Rev. Fr. Ruben Zargarian, Chaplain of Prison Ministries. During the visits, the clergymen offered Divine Liturgy, Blessing of the Waters, Home blessing and Requiem services, also conveying to the inmates and employees the message of the Holy Nativity. Several inmates were also baptized.
On the occasion of the Feasts of New Year and Christmas, as a continuation of the “Assistance to Inmate Families” project, clergyman visited about 20 inmate families with small children who are living at the poverty level. During the visitations Home Blessing services were offered, and the families were offered counseling. Christmas gifts for the children and financial assistance was also provided to the families.
