The Feast of St. Hripsime and Her Companions
05.06.2023
On June 5, the Armenian Apostolic Church commemorated the Feast Day of St. Hripsime and her Companions. That festive day is also the Pilgrimage day of Saint Hripsime Monastery.
In the morning, the procession of clergymen accompanied by the faithful, under the beat of drums by the students of the Youth Center of Etchmiadzin, moved to the Holy Hripsime Monastery, carrying the reliquary of St. Hripsime. In front of the arch of St. Gregory the Illuminator, the Patriarch of All Armenians, blessed the clergymen and faithful with the Holy Right Hand, passing it on to Proto-Archimandrite Zakaria Baghumyan, Director of the Christian Education Center of the Mother See. Zakaria the supreme reverend Baghumyan.
In front of the St. Hripsime Monastery, under the leadership of His Grace Bishop Artak Tigranyan, Dean of the Monasteries, the procession was welcomed by the spiritual servants of the monastery and many pilgrims from different places.
On the occasion of the sacred feast, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; a Divine Liturgy was served in the Saint Hripsime Monastery. The Celebrant was Rev. Fr. Minas Hakhverdyan, member of the Brotherhood of the Mother See. The Divine Liturgy was attended by Diocesan Primates, participants of the Brotherthood Conference and numerous pilgrims
Rev. Fr. Archimandrite Zatik Avetikyan, Spiritual Pastor of the Armenian community of Belgium made remarks on the sacrament of the day.
Father Zatik, referring to the sacrament of the day, urged the faithful to follow the example of the holiness of St. Hripsime and to strengthen their faith through the intercession of the Saint.
"Dear faithful, let's pray to God that, just as in the course of history, many faithful, following the example of St. Hripsime, kept our faith alive with their activities, so today and tomorrow new saints, known and unknown, will be born in the midst of our church and ensure the spirit of the Hripsime nuns in our lives." - stated Father Zatik, urging the faithful to be filled with faith, hope, and love and ask for God's mercy for our country and people.
