Celebration of Youth in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
30.04.2006
On Palm Sunday, April 9, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, hosted the 7th Annual Day of Youth in Holy Etchmiadzin. Soon after his election and enthronement as the 132nd Pontiff of the Armenian Church, His Holiness declared Palm Sunday to be an annual day for blessing children.
Immediately following Morning Services, the Catholicos of All Armenians offered a special "Andastan" service in the courtyard of the Mother Cathedral, where he blessed the four corners of the world, as well as thousands of willow branches which were to be distributed to the young boys and girls as they arrived in the Mother See.
t 11:00 AM, a special Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Vasken Nanian, a member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin and Vice Dean of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, His Holiness invited all the children to gather around him standing before the Holy Altar of Descent, where he offered a special service and prayer for blessing the young sons and daughters of the Armenian people.
In the afternoon, His Holiness opened the doors of the Pontifical Residence to the children of the city of Vagharshapat. Led by the mayor of the city, hundreds of young boys and girls were treated to a special tour of the museums and were received by the spiritual father of all Armenians. His Holiness congratulated the young guests and delivered a special fatherly message and blessing to them.
In keeping with the spirit of the day, His Holiness also received students from the Vahan and Anoush Chamlian Armenian School in Southern California, who had traveled to Armenia on their annual pilgrimage.
t 11:00 AM, a special Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Vasken Nanian, a member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin and Vice Dean of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, His Holiness invited all the children to gather around him standing before the Holy Altar of Descent, where he offered a special service and prayer for blessing the young sons and daughters of the Armenian people.
In the afternoon, His Holiness opened the doors of the Pontifical Residence to the children of the city of Vagharshapat. Led by the mayor of the city, hundreds of young boys and girls were treated to a special tour of the museums and were received by the spiritual father of all Armenians. His Holiness congratulated the young guests and delivered a special fatherly message and blessing to them.
In keeping with the spirit of the day, His Holiness also received students from the Vahan and Anoush Chamlian Armenian School in Southern California, who had traveled to Armenia on their annual pilgrimage.
