Feast of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin Celebrated
07.06.2026
On June 7, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church celebrated the Feast of Holy Etchmiadzin.
On the occasion of this blessed day, the Holy and Immortal Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Cathedral of the Descent of the Only-Begotten, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
The celebrant was His Grace Bishop Zakaria Baghumyan, Director of the Preaching Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Present at the sacred service were diocesan primates of the Armenian Church, the monastic clergy of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and numerous pilgrims.
In his sermon, reflecting on the spiritual significance of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Grace noted:
“Throughout the centuries, the Mother Cathedral, transcending the bounds of its stone form, has become the embodiment of a sacred mission, an indomitable spirit, and a mighty will, guiding our people through the decisive crossroads of history.
Our forefathers saw in this holy temple a symbol of unity and a living source of national cohesion, and they cherished the noble dream of restoring, preserving, and strengthening Armenian statehood.
It is not only a house of prayer but also a treasury of our collective memory, preserving the vitality and continuity of our ‘little flock.’
Holy Etchmiadzin is likewise the home of all Armenians, and devotion to Etchmiadzin stands as a shining example of love for the homeland and love for God.
...This beloved and venerable name is dear to us because the God-given Etchmiadzin is, in a profound sense, ourselves.
Whenever we drifted away from the spirit of Holy Etchmiadzin, we wandered in darkness, became estranged from our roots and from the true faith of St. Gregory the Illuminator handed down by our forefathers, and bowed before countless trials.
Yet whenever we rediscovered Holy Etchmiadzin, we were transformed and enlightened, becoming ever more firmly rooted in our Armenian identity.
At the most critical moments of our history, we united and rallied around Holy Etchmiadzin, firmly convinced that as long as the altar of our faith remains steadfast, the Armenian nation too shall endure.
Therefore, the Feast of Holy Etchmiadzin is not merely the commemoration of a historical event, but both a national and personal call—to all Armenians and to every believer—to renew our lives and our faith, to know ourselves, and to hold fast to our identity, lest we lose our way in this ever-changing world filled with challenges and trials.”
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a Patriarchal Prayer was offered before the Holy Altar of the Descent in the Cathedral, under the presidency of the Catholicos of All Armenians.
The gathered faithful and clergy offered prayers to God for the steadfastness, prosperity, and everlasting radiance of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
