Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On September 18, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; the opening ceremony of the renovated Pontifical Residence; Chapel of the Holy Patriarchs and the newly built Events Auditorium was held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The Pontifical Residence has been completely renovated and repaired due to the heartfelt donation of the national benefactor Mr. Samvel Karapetyan and his family.

Present at the ceremony were RA President Mr. Armen Sargsyan; RA Prime Minister Mr. Nikol Pashinyan; benefactor Mr.Samvel Karapetyan; state officials; Primates of the Armenian Apostolic Church; members of the Brotherhood of the Mother See; members of the Supreme Spritual Council; AGBU President Mr. Berge Setrakian; Armenian benefactors arrived from different countries; Mr. Joachim Gauk, Honorable President of the Federal Republic of Germany as well as other guests.

The ceremony began in front of the newly-built Chapel of the Holy Patriarchs, where, under the presidency of the  Catholicos of All Armenians; the Blessing Service of the Pontificial Residence complex was offered. At the conclusion of the ceremony, under the singing of the hymn “Lusavorya Jerusalem”, the Catholicos of All Armenians and honorable benefactor Mr. Samvel Karapetyan lit the ever-burning lantern and the first prayer candle, and placed on the Holy Altar.

The opening ceremony of the Pontifical Residence continued in front of the central entrance of the Pontifical Residence, where, under the presidency of His Grave Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan, Grand Sacristan of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and Mr. Narek Karapetyan, Vice President of the “Tashir’’ group, the opening of the protocol stone of the Patriarchal blessing was held. On this solemn occasion, the Cancelation Ceremony of Stamp dedicated to the reopening of the Pontifical Residence was also held.  Mr. Hakob Arshakyan, RA Minister of High-Tech Industry; His Grace Bishop Mushegh Babayan, Director of the Administrative department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and Mr. Hayk Avagyan, Director of “Haypost’’ CJSC, were the signatories for the cancellation ceremony of the stamp.

Then, His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians and national benefactor Mr. SamvelKarapetyan, cut the entrance ribbon of the renovated Pontifical Residence. Following which, under the singing of the hymn “Hrashapar”, the doors of the Pontifical Residence were opened and the attendees entered the Pontifical Residence led by the Catholicos of All Armenians.
Following the tour in the renovated Pontifical Residence the guests gathered in the magnificent Events Auditorium, where the opening ceremony continued.

Following the Lord's Prayer and the Anthem of the RA, the participants of the ceremony watched the film by the ''Shoghakat'' TV company about the benefactor Karapetyan family, which was followed by the blessing remarks of the Catholicos of All Armenians to those presents.

Your Excellency the President of the Republic of Armenia;

Honorable President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Joachim Gauk;

Dear Spiritual Fathers, State officials and attendees;

We extend our greetings and our Patriarchal love and blessings to all of you, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Today, with delightful feelings, we have gathered in the spiritual center of All Armenians for the opening ceremony of the renovated Pontifical Residence, the newly built Chapel of the Holy Patriarchs and the Events Auditorium.

The renovation and reconstruction of the new Pontifical Residence is a significant event for the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, as well as for our faithful. All the Armenians around the world always look towards the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, to the source of their Christian entity and national identity. For centuries, even in trials, the spiritual center of All Armenians has been rebuilt, maintained and evolved, been the subject of care of the faithful people.

Each of the buildings of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin carries the seal of its era and has its unique history with the vivid evidence of our faithful sons’ works, their fraternal devotion towards the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the zeal to support its mission. The construction of the new Pontifical Residence began due to the heartfelt donation of the great national benefactor Mr. Alexandr Mantashyan in 1910 and lasted for about five years. However, based on historical circumstances, the building served as a military hospital for a long time. About 60 years ago, due to the efforts of the CatholicosVazgen I, the building was returned to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and served as a Catholicosate. The renovation and embellishment of the spiritual center of All Armenians, indeed, contributes to the effectiveness of the mission of the Armenian Apostolic Church, so that the building continues to unite our people with spiritual and national values, to connect his fatherland spread around the Mount Ararat as well as to the redemption and salvation of Christ.

These magnificent implementations: the renovation of the Pontifical Residence, the Chapel of the Holy Patriarchs, and the construction of the Events Auditorium, have been brought to life due to the heartfelt donation of the great national benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Samvel and Eteri Karapetyans. Mr. Karapetyan is well known to our people as a patriot and devoted person to his country and a great benefactor. Charity is the motivation of his soul, the manifestation of his pious nature and an honest desire to promote the welfare and progress of the nation and the Apostolic Church of All Armenians. With this devoted spirit, he undertook the sponsorship of the construction of the Events Auditorium with love. Following this, being informed about the renovation program of the Pontifical Residence, Mr. Samvel Karapetyan wanted to undertake the whole renovation process of the Pontiffical Residence with his special generosity.

Today the Pontificial Residence with its surroundings has been repaired due to the benefactor's praiseworthy devotion. Due to such beautiful kinds of implementations, the spiritual center of All Armenians is being prospered and embellished contributing to the effectiveness of the mission of the Holy Church. The beautiful Chapel of the Holy Patriarchs as a part of this complex should serve as a new sanctuary of prayer and intersection of the Holy Patriarchs for our country, our people and for the whole world, so that the prayer should rise from the lips of all those hosting in the Pontifical Residence.

We offer glory and gratitude to God for granting our nation such benefactors, due to the efforts of which our Churches are repaired, new Chapels are built, and the spiritual life prospers. Joyfully, we are also looking forward seeing the completion of the renovation of the Mother Cathedral being implemented due to the national contribution and honest donation of the  benefactors. Indeed, it is a grace and blessing to embellish the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for both the benefactors and diligent workers, as well as for the Armenian Patriarch. The grateful activity of the benefactors is a desirable example for the children of our nation to serve their abilities, talent and time to the reformation and development of the Church life, people, Fatherland and charity. And indeed, the remarks are remarkable that always sound like a wish from the lips of our people: “Bless the memory of Holy Etchmiadzin’’, stated the Catholicos of All Armenians.

On this glorious occasion, we again convey our pontifical blessings to dear Mr. and Mrs. Samvel and Eteri Karapetyans for their significant implementations in our national and ecclesiastical life, their everlasting faith and continuous support to the Armenian Apostolic Church. The church-loving and strong spirit of patriotism of the children of Karapetyan pious family have been educated under the paternal care and upbringing of Mr. Sargis Karapetyan and his late wife, Mrs. Amalya Karapetyan, whom we remember through prayers today.

We offer our prayers so that the Almighty God grant all the members of Karapetyan benefactor family health and happiness. May God grant You, dear benefactor, with new success and achievements in your activities.

With Our grateful heart, We also extend Our Pontifical appreciation to the architects, builders and all the benefactors for their completely dedicated efforts and praiseworthy work.

We pray that the Lord, under the protection of His Right Hand, keep our country peaceful and secure, our people in the Diaspora and keep our Holy Church steady and bright, always abounding the delight of such kinds of church-loving and patriotic activities in the life of All Armenians. May Our Lord  Christ keep His established Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin bright and full of people''.

At the conclusion of the remarks, His Holiness awarded Mr. Karapetyan with the highest order of the ''Knight of Holy Etchmiadzin'' for his exclusive supports served to the Church of All Armenians.  On the occasion of this event, the benefactor was awarded the Golden Cross miniature stone-cross exhibited in the museum of the Pontifical Residence.

On this memorable occasion, Mr. Armen Sargsyan, President of the Republic of Armenia, offered his remarks.

''Nowadays, we often become a witness how the values are distorted in different sides of the world, how the civilizations are sacrificed to politics, human relations to geopolitical interests, as well as, how people become indifferent and alien to one another.

Whereas, we need to be united and more compassionate towards one another; country; the state, nation, the Church, the Army and to our national values.

Armenia is located not only at the crossroads of solidarity of civilizations but also at the crossroads of the conflicts of civilizations. The Armenian Apostolic Church and our faith have been and remain to be the anchor and pillar of our national identity'', particularly stated the RA President.

''...The Armenian Apostolic Church has always been the protector of our people's spiritual values. And for us, as the first nation in the world who proclaimed Christianity as a state religion, the faith has became the basis of our existence and the Church- the guarantee of the unity of the Armenians in the Diaspora. This is also particularly nowdays.

Etchmiadzin is the heart of the Armenian Church. Wherever  we - the Armenians are, our hearts and prayers are towards the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. I hope that the renovated Pontifical Residence will become the protective hearth of our spiritual values. As of this day, it will be possible to receive high-ranking guests arrived from different parts of the world properly under these walls. For this reason, I insisted to renovate the Residence with utmost luxury'', said the honourable benefactor expressing his joy on the occasion of the project implementation, which is called to protect the Church Heritage for the next centuries.

During the event, the Yerevan State Chamber Choir made performances (conductor Harutyun Topikyan, Honored Art Worker of Armenia); pianist Svetlana Navasardyan, Honored Artist of Armenia; singer Gevorg Hakobyan, Honored Artist of Armenia and Laureate of international contests and violinist Anush Nikoghosyan. The “Sayat-Nova” honored ensemble of folk songs led by Professor Tovmas Poghosyan, Honored People's Artist of Armenia, also performed.

The event concluded with the Patriarchal hymn, which was followed by an official dinner.