Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On May 18, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church celebrated the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This day also commemorates the return of the Catholicosate of All Armenians from Sis to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in 1441.

Led by the Catholicos of All Armenians, the Brotherhood of the Mother See attended the Divine Liturgy at the St. Gayane Monastery. The Celebrant was His Eminence Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, Primate of the Diocese of Tavush.

The Celebrant offered his sermon on the sanctity of the day and stated in part that Christ told his disciples before His Ascension, "Behold, I am with you..." (Matthew 28:21) and commanded them to take responsibility for the preaching entrusted to them, to be the witnesses of His impassable truths, not to be afraid of harsh blows, not to hesitate when raising the truth, to preach God's word without ceasing, to convert the lost, to eliminate lies and falsehood, to make people God's own people, calling them from service to sonship.

Then, speaking about the challenges in the life of the Armenian people, Archbishop Bagrat stated in part: "Even today, we live in a situation where a part of our homeland is captured, our beloved Artsakh world, our brothers and sisters, whom no one can separate from us. When we live with the reality of thousands of victims, wounded children, our beloved children in the agony of captivity and in the grip of the unknown, when we are faced with making desperate decisions to search for ways of light and hope, when we live with stolen joy, stolen honor, stolen purpose, stolen hopes, in the reality of stolen faith and love, our Lord comes again to remind and encourage us, " I am with you always,..." (Mat. 28:21), I am with you every second, bearing your sufferings, walking with you, living, acting and through you also giving instructions and direction to events."

Referring to the transfer of the Catholicosal See to Holy Etchmiadzin, the Celebrant emphasized that the Armenian Church, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, with the blessings and guidance of its nation-chosen throne, is trying to become the ark, the guiding path, the path that does not kill hope, but sends a message of life around it, gathering Armenians from all over the world.

"Today, the Armenian Church calls again and invites its children to stand up for their responsibility and rights, not to be afraid of the world's conspiracies and pains, not to be afraid of the crown of glory of martyrdom, not to falter in faithfulness to the word of God," stated Archbishop Bagrat, at the same time, on behalf of the Brotherhood, on the occasion of the feast, wishing the Patriarch of All Armenians longevity on the throne, so that Armenians may see the flowering and restoration of the Homeland

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, under the presidency of His Holiness Kartekin II, a Special Prayer Service was offered, during which the clergy and the faithful prayed to God for the steadfastness and eternal vibrancy of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Patriarchy of All Armenians.