Armenian Apostolic Holy Church Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On October 27, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received members of the Ararat Dance Ensemble at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The ensemble operates under the auspices of the Holy Mother of God Church in Issy-les-Moulineaux, Diocese of the Armenian Church of France. During the meeting, the Catholicos of All Armenians expressed appreciation for the ensemble's activities, emphasizing the importance of raising the younger generation in the spirit of Armenian traditions, strengthening their national spirit and preserving national identity. His Holiness noted that such initiatives in the Diaspora help strengthen community life and unite Armenians around their shared national and spiritual values.

On October 25, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received the Right Reverend Graham Barham Usher, Bishop of Norwich, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Bishop Usher was leading the Anglican Church's delegation to COP17. During the meeting, the Catholicos of All Armenians spoke with satisfaction of the friendly relations between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Anglican Church, expressing his appreciation for the support extended to the Armenian Church and the Armenian people. The Supreme Patriarch also emphasized the importance of inter-Church dialogue and cooperation in addressing challenges facing humanity today. In this context, His Holiness emphasized the role of the Christian faith in shaping a person's spiritual and moral character, describing care for God's creation as an expression of love and responsibility toward God and one's neighbor.

On October 25, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received an ecumenical delegation of the World Council of Churches (WCC) at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The delegation participated in the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), held in Yerevan. During the meeting, the Catholicos of All Armenians emphasized the Christian Churches' shared commitment to preserving the harmony of creation and its God-given diversity.

On October 22, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received clergy members of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Naples (Italy) at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, who had arrived in Armenia on a pilgrimage. His Holiness blessed the guests and offered his good wishes, speaking warmly of the fraternal relations between the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and the Roman Catholic Church, as well as the historical ties uniting the Armenian and Italian peoples. The Catholicos of All Armenians particularly highlighted the profound veneration of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Naples, where his holy relics are preserved and revered. In this connection, His Holiness recalled Pope John Paul II's 2000 gift of a relic of St. Gregory the Illuminator to the Armenian Church, as well as his own 2015 visit to Naples on the occasion of the reinterment of the saint's relics.

On October 20, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received clergy members of the Catholic Diocese of Trieste (Italy), who were on a pilgrimage to Armenia and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, led by the diocesan bishop, His Excellency Bishop Enrico Trevisi. During the meeting, Bishop Enrico introduced the guests to His Holiness, noting that the pilgrimage was intended to strengthen their Christian faith and brotherly love and inspire them to continue their mission of proclaiming the Gospel. Extending his blessing to those present, the Catholicos of All Armenians spoke about the mission of the Armenian Church, highlighting the fundamental role of the Christian faith in shaping and preserving the Armenian people’s national identity and culture. His Holiness added that, throughout the centuries, the Armenian people, united around the Church, have drawn strength from their Christian faith and optimism to overcome the trials they have faced.

On October 16, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received a delegation of Save Armenia, led by the organization's Executive Director, Dr. Paul Murray. His Holiness extended his blessing to the organization and expressed his appreciation for its efforts to protect the rights of the Armenians of Artsakh, secure the release of Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan, and preserve the Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage of Artsakh.

On October 9, a meeting of bishops serving at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, diocesan primates in Armenia, and locum tenentes of diocesan primates was held under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Having discussed the unlawful campaign launched against the Armenian Church by the authorities of the Republic of Armenia, as well as the initiatives undertaken in the National Assembly in connection with this campaign, the participants issued the following statement.

On October 8, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin a group of Catholic pilgrims from a parish community in Milan, Italy. Extending his blessing to those present, His Holiness spoke about the Armenian Church's mission, emphasizing the role of the Christian faith in shaping and preserving the Armenian people's national identity and culture. In his remarks, the Catholicos of All Armenians emphasized the importance of such visits in deepening mutual understanding and strengthening ties between Christian communities. The Armenian Pontiff also noted with satisfaction the warm, fraternal relations between the Armenian and Catholic Churches. In conclusion, His Holiness wished the pilgrims a blessed pilgrimage to Armenia’s sacred sites, expressing confidence that their visit would serve as a grace-filled source of spiritual inspiration and a means of strengthening their faith.

On October 8, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin pilgrims from St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Pasadena, Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, led by their parish priest, Archpriest Fr. Sarkis Petoyan. His Holiness extended his paternal blessing to the pilgrims and thanked Fr. Sarkis for his continued efforts to uphold the cherished tradition of organizing pilgrimages to the Homeland. In this regard, the Supreme Patriarch emphasized the significance of such pilgrimages to Armenia and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, which provide Armenians from the Diaspora with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of life in the Homeland and the challenges it faces, draw spiritual inspiration from its sacred sites, and, renewed in faith and patriotic spirit,

On October 6, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, met at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin with leading lawyers, human rights defenders, and experts in constitutional law. During the meeting, participants discussed current issues in Church–State relations and National Assembly initiatives concerning the Armenian Church. The Catholicos of All Armenians conveyed his blessing to the participants and expressed his appreciation for their steadfast efforts to protect the rights of the Armenian Church, emphasizing the importance of their professional assistance in identifying legal avenues to address the challenges facing the Church.

On October 5, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received a delegation from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, led by António Feijó, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Extending his Patriarchal blessing to those present, His Holiness highly commended the Foundation’s humanitarian mission and its valuable activities aimed at advancing education, science, and culture in various countries. The Armenian Pontiff particularly emphasized the importance of the Foundation’s initiatives to strengthen Armenia and Armenian communities throughout the Diaspora.

By the Patriarchal Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, new appointments have been made among the clergy. The Rev. Fr. Archimandrite Andranik Gevorgyan, having been relieved of his duties as Abbot of the Monastery of St. Hripsime, has been appointed Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Iraq. The Rev. Fr. Archimandrite Zareh Kabaghyan, having been relieved of his spiritual duties in the Diocese of Vayots Dzor, has been appointed Abbot of the Monastery of St. Hripsime. The Rev. Fr. Hieromonk Mkhitar Yepremyan, having been relieved of his duties at the Gevorgian Theological Seminary, has been sent to Italy for studies. The Hon. Fr. Mambre Hmayakyan, having been relieved of his spiritual duties in the Diocese of Armavir, has been appointed to serve at the Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Almelo, the Netherlands, under the jurisdiction of the Pontifical Legate of Western Europe.

On October 4, Ms. Paula White-Cain, Senior Advisor to the White House Faith Office, attended the Divine and Immortal Liturgy at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin after arriving in Armenia to participate in the Second Prayer Breakfast held in Yerevan on October 2–3. Following the sacred service, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received the Senior Advisor to the White House Faith Office at his residence. His Holiness welcomed Ms. White-Cain’s visit to Armenia and the spiritual center of all Armenians, noting that it provided a fitting opportunity to become better acquainted with the country, the first to proclaim Christianity as its state religion, as well as the Armenian people and their rich spiritual and cultural heritage.

On October 2, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received a delegation from Argentina at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, comprising members of the Senate and political figures. During the meeting, His Holiness noted that the delegation’s visit was another testament to the friendship between the Armenian and Argentine peoples, emphasizing the importance of such meetings in deepening mutual understanding and strengthening the ties between the two peoples.

On October 2, with the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, a solemn ceremony marked the opening of a workshop to restore and conserve museum objects at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Established at the initiative of the Catholicos of All Armenians in the “Alex and Marie Manoogian” Treasury, the workshop has been equipped with the necessary equipment through the Government of Japan’s Cultural “Grassroots” Grant Program, with the support of the Embassy of Japan in Armenia and the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU).

By the Patriarchal Decree of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, effective October 1 of this year, His Grace Bishop Makar Hakobyan has been relieved of his duties as Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Vayots Dzor, a position he had held concurrently. Rev. Fr. Movses Archimandrite Sargsyan has been appointed Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Vayots Dzor.

On September 29, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin former U.S. Congressman Randy Hultgren, Wes Anderson, co-organizer of the U.S. National Prayer Breakfast, and Dan Alexander, Chief Executive Officer of Spryng Energy, accompanied by Mr. Ashot Tunyan, a benefactor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The guests arrived in Armenia to attend the Prayer Breakfast in Yerevan on October 2–3. On this occasion, they also visited the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to learn more about the history and mission of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church. During the meeting, they referenced the Armenian Church's mission to provide for the spiritual salvation and preservation of the Armenian people, and they particularly emphasized its exceptional role in forming and preserving the Armenian people's spiritual culture and national identity.