Relics of St. John the Forerunner and St. Athenogenes the Bishop Brought to the Shoghakat Monastery
19.06.2025
On June 19, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church celebrated the Feast of St. John the Forerunner (the Baptist) and St. Athenogenes the Bishop, which also marks the pilgrimage day of the Holy Shoghakat Monastery in Vagharshapat.
In the morning, the reliquary cross containing the relics of St. John the Baptist and Bishop Athenogenes was solemnly borne in procession by the clergy from the Mother See to the Shoghakat Monastery.
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, led the procession up to the Arch of St. Gregory the Illuminator, bestowing blessings upon the faithful with the reliquary cross.
Thereafter, His Holiness entrusted the holy relics to the Rev. Fr. Anania Tsaturyan, Grand Sacristan of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Numerous pilgrims received the procession at the gates of the St. Shoghakat Monastery under the leadership of Reverend Bishop Artak Tigranyan, Inspector of the Monasteries of the Mother See.
On the occasion of the feast, the Divine and Immortal Liturgy was celebrated in the monastery by the Rev. Fr. Aris Tonoyan, Abbot of the Shoghakat Monastery.
After the Divine Liturgy, in the monastery courtyard, under the presidency of Bishop Artak, the blessing of the faithful and the rite of Antasdan, the blessing of the four corners of the world, were performed with the reliquary cross containing the relics of St. John the Baptist and Bishop Athanagine.
