Celebration of the Holy Nativity and Theophany in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
06.01.2017
On January 6, on the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Mother Cathedral by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
The Divine Liturgy was attended by Mr. Galust Sahakyan , President of the Republic of Armenia National Assembly; Mr.Karen Karapetyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia; state officials, Brotherhood of the Mother See; members of the Supreme Spiritual Council; Armenian Church philanthropists; foreign diplomats, and public figures from the fields of education, science and the arts.
Under canopy and the ringing of bells, a Pontifical Procession led the Catholicos of All Armenians, to the Mother Cathedral. The Canopy bearers were; Mr. Felix Melikyan, Community Leader of Koti village of Tavush region; Mr. Manvel Kamendatyan, Community Leader of Upper Karmir Aghbyur; Mr. Narek Sahakyan, Community Leader of Baghanis village and Mr. Arthur Madatyan, Community Leader of Berkaber village.
His Grace Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan, Grant Sacristan of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin; and His Grace Bishop Mushegh Babayan, Operations Director of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin; assisted His Holiness during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.
During the Pontifical Divine Liturgy the Catholicos of All Armenians extended His Pontifical Blessings and Message to All Armenians worldwide, conveying to everyone the Good News of the Angel.
In his remarks, His Holiness also conveyed his greetings and good wishes to the heads of the Hierarchal sees of the Armenian Apostolic Church, heads of the Sister Churches and the clergy of the Armenian Church.
On the occasion of the Feast, His Holiness asked the Lord’s support for Mr. Serzh Sargsyan, President of the Armenian Republic and Mr. Bako Sahakyan, President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, and conveyed his blessings to all faithful Armenians in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora.
Following the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness Karekin II offered the service of Blessings of Waters.
His Grace Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, spiritual Primate of the Armenian Army, brought the Holy Chrism to the Holy Altar, then following the Biblical readings and hymns, His Holiness read the prayer of St. Basil of Caesarea’s and blessed the water with the Holy Chrism and cross.
Mr. Karpis Harutyunyan, representative of the Syrian community in Armenia, served as the Godfather of the Cross during the ceremony in the Mother Cathedral.
Following the conclusion of the Liturgy, an official reception was held in the Alec and Marie Manoogian Treasury House Museum, where the Catholicos of All Armenians offered his blessings and best wishes to those present on the occasion of Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
