Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On April 9, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; the Armenian Church celebrated the Feast of Palm Sunday, which commemorates the triumphant entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. Palm Sunday is also annually declared to be the Blessing of Children Day.

Following the Morning Service, His Holiness Karekin II presided and offered the blessing service for the four corners of the world (Andastan) and the Blessing of the Children in the courtyard of the Mother Cathedral. Following the service, His Holiness conveyed his blessings to the children in attendance. The Armenian Pontiff presented crosses to the children, and branches were distributed to the faithful.

Then a Divine Liturgy was offered in the Mother Cathedral. The Celebrant was His Eminence Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Director of the External Relations and Protocol Department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. In his sermon, Archbishop Nathan reflected on the sacred mystery of Palm Sunday.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Catholicos of All Armenians once again blessed the children. In front of the Mother Cathedral, His Holiness conveyed his blessings to nearly 130 children with disabilities from the Hrazdan Children's Support Foundation Day Center, who arrived at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin at the invitation of His Holiness.

A reception was organized for the children by the Social Service Department of the Mother See, during which gifts were distributed to them. The children attended a concert prepared by the children of the Armenian Church Youth Centers, in the Hrach and Susan Tufayan Youth Center of Etchmiadzin.

On the occasion of the Feast, under the presidency of His Holiness, 2.000.000 AMD will be donated in support to the Hrazdan Children's Support Foundation Day Center.

In the afternoon, the Catholicos of All Armenians received child scribes serving in different diocesan churches, who attended the Palm Sunday Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral. Conveying his blessings to them, His Holiness praised the young people for their faithful character and wished to continue their church-devoted service with the same spirit.