Feast of the First Armenian Illuminators Celebrated at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
29.11.2025
The Armenian Apostolic Holy Church solemnly celebrated the feast of the first Armenian Illuminators — the Holy Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew.
By the sacred encyclical of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, this day has been proclaimed the Pilgrimage Day to the God-Piercing Holy Lance 'Geghard'.
On the occasion of the feast, the Divine and Immortal Liturgy was celebrated in the Cathedral of the Descent of the Only-Begotten under the presidency of His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians. The Liturgy was officiated by His Grace Bishop Daniel Fntigyan, Head of the Postgraduate Department of the Gevorgian Theological Seminary of the Mother See.
Present at the sacred service were the ruling hierarchs of the Armenian Church, the monastic congregates of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and numerous pilgrims.
During the Liturgy, led by the church procession, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, solemnly carried the God-Piercing Holy Lance into the Cathedral.
In his sermon, reflecting on the spiritual significance of the feast of the first Armenian Illuminators, the Prelate emphasized:
"The Apostles did not come to Armenia with armies, nor with political ambitions or promises of worldly glory. They came with hope in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and with His love. And this Gospel became the beginning of the first Christian nation. It is our true treasure, our heritage, and the soul of Armenia."
Addressing the challenges of our time, Bishop Daniel noted that throughout the centuries, the Armenian people preserved their identity and safeguarded the Holy Church not by power, but through united struggle, shared suffering, and steadfast faith.
"We preserved one another — from deserts to exiles, through genocide, through silent persecutions. We upheld and carried one another — from deserts and exiles to genocide and voiceless oppression.
We endured not because of our own strength, but because we remained one body — one Church, one prayer, one vision, and one hope in Christ crucified and risen.
…Our Apostles remind us today that the hope of the nation is not in political victories, but in spiritual resurrection and life in holiness," said Bishop Daniel, calling on those present to examine their hearts deeply, to repent, to reject the poison of division, and to regard one another as members of the Body of Christ.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Armenian Shepherd blessed the assembled faithful with the "Guardian" prayer and with the wonderworking Holy Geghard, after which the faithful were allowed to venerate and kiss this pan-Christian relic.
The God-Piercing Holy Lance 'Geghard' will remain in the Cathedral until the conclusion of the evening service.
