Newly Built Church in Byureghavan Consecrated by the Catholicos of All Armenians
19.09.2026
On September 19, 2026, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the newly built church in the city of Byureghavan, Diocese of Kotayk, was solemnly consecrated.
The church was constructed through the benefaction of brothers Mkhitar and Yuri Aroyan, Armenian benefactors residing in Russia, according to the design of architect Edik Poghosyan.
Present at the sacred ceremony were members of the monastic congregation of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, diocesan primates of the Armenian Church, clergy of the Diocese of Kotayk, representatives of the cultural and public spheres, as well as numerous pilgrims who had arrived in Byureghavan from Kotayk Province and various regions of Armenia on the occasion of the church’s consecration.
Following the traditional ceremonial welcome with bread and salt, the Catholicos of All Armenians planted a tree in the church courtyard.
Thereafter, imparting his Patriarchal blessing to those gathered, His Holiness entered the church, where the sacred rite of consecration commenced.
During the ceremony, accompanied by the chanting of hymns and psalms, the Holy Altar, the church’s columns, and the baptismal font were washed with water and wine. Then, during the singing of the Hrashapar hymn (“Wondrous”), the Holy Muron was solemnly brought into the sanctuary, with which the Catholicos of All Armenians consecrated the Holy Altar.
Subsequently, Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisian, Archbishop Haigazun Najarian, Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Bishop Mushegh Babayan, Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan, Bishop Oshakan Gyulgyulian, Bishop Narek Avagyan, Bishop Makar Hakobyan, Bishop Ruben Zargaryan, Bishop Anania Tsaturyan, and Bishop Zakaria Baghumyan consecrated the altar columns, the baptismal font, and the remaining columns of the church.
Following the prayers and readings from Holy Scripture, the Catholicos of All Armenians dedicated the newly built church in the name of the Holy Mother of God (Surb Astvatsatsin).
On the joyous occasion of the church’s consecration, the Armenian Pontiff delivered his paternal message and blessing to the faithful.
His Holiness offered thanks to God for the realization of this God-blessed undertaking, long awaited by the residents of Byureghavan. The Supreme Patriarch emphasized that the Lord’s sanctuaries are built and consecrated through faith, and that around them, through the gathering of the faithful, spiritual unity is strengthened, faith, hope, and love are renewed, and the Holy Church shines ever more brightly.
“The Church is the House of God, where the earthly and the heavenly, the temporal and the eternal are united. In this sacred place, a person encounters his Creator, speaks with Him in prayer, finds peace for the soul, and receives strength to walk the path of salvation. For this reason, the Psalmist exclaims with admiration, speaking of the temple of God: ‘Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth’ (Psalm 26:8), said the Catholicos of All Armenians.
Reflecting on the difficulties and challenges facing the homeland and the Armenian people, His Holiness stressed that they can be overcome only through unity, steadfastness, devotion to the homeland, courage, and unwavering trust in the Lord.
“Whatever hardships and trials may come, strengthen yourselves with hope and unwavering faith. Always choose honesty, kindness, and forgiveness, rejecting every form of injustice, falsehood, and lawlessness. Indeed, within the Church, founded upon the unshakable rock of faith, only the love, mutual understanding, and harmony commanded by the Lord prevail, inspiring us to live with noble responsibility and devoted service to God, the nation, and the homeland,” the Armenian Pontiff exhorted the faithful.
Addressing the people of Byureghavan, the Catholicos of All Armenians fatherly urged them to keep the newly built church vibrant through unceasing prayer, regular participation in its sacred services, and adorning the House of God with their care and love.
On the happy occasion of the church’s consecration, His Holiness conveyed his high appreciation and good wishes to the devoted benefactors, brothers Mkhitar and Yuri Aroyan, noting that they had added yet another God-pleasing and significant accomplishment to their commendable church-building endeavors.
His Holiness also expressed appreciation to architect Edik Poghosyan, community head Hakob Balasyan, and all those who had supported this praiseworthy undertaking.
His Holiness also conveyed his wishes for a speedy recovery to Archbishop Arakel Karamyan, Primate of the Diocese of Kotayk, who, due to health reasons, was unable to participate in the sacred rite of consecration.
The Supreme Patriarch then called upon the regional and municipal authorities to support the clergy serving in the diocese and to contribute in every possible way to the successful and fruitful fulfillment of the important mission of the newly consecrated church.
Concluding his remarks, the Catholicos of All Armenians prayed that Almighty God, through the intercession of the Holy Mother of God, would keep the faithful people and the newly consecrated church under the protection of His All-Guarding Holy Right Hand, grant peace to the entire world and to the homeland, and bestow a peaceful and secure life upon the Armenian people in Armenia and throughout the Diaspora.
On the occasion of the consecration of the Church of the Holy Mother of God, His Holiness presented the church with an icon of the Nativity of Christ as a perpetual source of the blessing bestowed from Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness also awarded Patriarchal Letters of Blessing to the Aroyan brothers.
Following the consecration, Rev. Fr. Mashtots Hakobyan, pastor of St. Hripsime Church in Barnaul of the Diocese of Russia and New Nakhichevan, celebrated a Holy and Immortal Divine Liturgy in the newly consecrated church.
