Easter Eve Divine Liturgy Celebrated in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
On March 30, following the Evening Services, an Easter Eve Divine Liturgy, presided by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, was celebrated at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Grace Bishop Yeznik Petrossian. During the Liturgy, the good news was proclaimed:
"Christ is Risen from the Dead,
Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ"
The period of the great Lent was concluded with this tiding.
Following the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness conducted the Blessing of Home Service in the Veharan (Residence of the Catholicos).
In the Armenian Church evening Divine Liturgies are celebrated only twice a year on the eve of the Holy Feast of Teophany and Nativity and on the eve of the Holy Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Christ. According to the tradition, after the Liturgy the faithful people take to their homes lit candles symbolizing the life-giving Light of Jesus Christ.
At the end of the evening, His Holiness joined all of the Members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Seminarians of the Kevorkian Theological Seminary for a late supper in the Refectory of the monastery.
