Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On September 18, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the opening ceremony of the Pontifical Residence - the Catholicosate of All Armenians will be held. The Pontifical Residence was built a century ago under the patronage of prominent Mr. Alexandr Mantashyan. Today, due to the charity of the benefactor Mr. Samvel Karapetyan and his family, the Pontifical Residence appears with sublimity proper to the Catholicoses of All Armenians.

For centuries, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has been under the rule of foreigners, which, especially during the Soviet period, made it almost impossible to build magnificent and spacious buildings in the Spiritual Center of All Armenians, that would be the expression of the fame, honor and glory of the Spiritual Center of All Armenians, and the world-famous high status of the Catholicos of All Armenians. Though the working conditions of the Catholicoses of All Armenians were often renewed, again outwardly they remained modest and inadequate to its spiritual power and reputation. With the God’s mercy, at the beginning of the 20th century, Alexander Shirvanzade, one of the famous Armenian writers, with his one letter, informeS Matthew II Izmirlian, Catholicos of All Armenians; that great national benefactor Alexander Mantashyan haS a desire "to build (Matthew II Izmirlian, Catholicos of All Armenians;) a magnificent residence for His Holiness at his own expenses".

On June 6, 1910, the ground-blessing service of the Pontifical Residence was presided by Matthew II Izmirlian, Catholicos of All Armenians. The talented architect Mr. Poghos Zohrabyan planned a magnificent building: two-stored, big and bright.

Unfortunately, neither His Holiness Matthew II Izmirlian, Catholicos of All Armenian, nor Mr. Alexander Mantashyan were lucky enough (did not have the chance) to enter the newly built Pontifical Residence. The main construction works were completed in 1914, already during the enthronement of His Holiness George V, Catholicos of All Armenians. Unfortunately, His Holiness George V also did not have the chance to entirely complete the building of the Pontifical Residence and settle down there as the First World War began. Several months later, the Armenian Genocide took place, which is followed by the birth of the Republic of Armenia through heavy pains...

As in the depths of the centuries, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin was again in the service of the wounded Nation and recovered Fatherland. During those inexpressible years, the newly built Pontifical Residence served as a military hospital, a refuge for migrants and orphans. During the years of the First Republic of Armenia, the Pontifical Residence was changed into a barrack where the military personnel were settled. In 1920, when the Soviet rule was established in Armenia, the Pontifical Residence was also confiscated. Years were passing and certain favorable conditions were created in the Soviet country, breathing and living with atheistic ideology.

In 1957, (towards the recourse) ahead of the application of His Holiness Vazgen I, Catholicos of All Armenians; the Pontifical Residence was given back to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin due to the order of Mr. N.A. Bulganin, President of the USSR Council of Ministers. From 1958 to 1962, through the support of the benefactors of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the interior of the Pontifical Residence was radically rebuilt and beautifully renovated; The halls and rooms were furnished and decorated with artistic works. At this time, the surrounding area of the Pontifical Residence was also fenced and reformed. On September 30, 1962, His Holiness Vasken I, Catholicos of All Armenians; solemnly enters the Pontifical Residence and it becomes the Residence of the Patriarchs of All Armenians.

From the very beginning of the enthronement of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; efforts were made both for joining the ranks of the clergy and educating a new generation, and providing the clergy with proper conditions in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Dioceses. The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin was expanded and unprecedentedly renovated. The complete renovation and expansion of the Pontifical Residence to meet the modern demands became time requirements. However, His Holiness did not hurry to reflect on that problem; first of all, He took care of the dwelling problems of the members of Brotherhood of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

In all ages, the Armenian benefactors made their irrefutable contributions to the construction and development of their Fatherland promoting the building and protection of the cultural landmarks and sanctuaries, the strengthening of the Armenian Apostolic Church – as a pillar of the protection of our national unity and identity.

Through the assistance of national-church benefactor Mr. Richard Manoogian, a new two-stored, gigantic Brotherhood building with unparalleled facilities was constructed. Following this, the working conditions of the employees of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin were improved, the Chancellery (benefactors – Mr. and Mrs. Nazar and Artemis Nazarians), the “Vatche and Tamar Manoukian” Library (benefactors – Mr. and Mrs. Vatche and Tamar Manoukians), the “Karekin I” Educational Center (benefactors – Mr. and Mrs. Haig and Elza Didizians) and the Administrative building (benefactor - Mrs. Louise Manoogian Simone) were built. The Catholicos of All Armenians also renovated the historical buildings of Holy Etchmiadzin: the Gevorkian Theological Seminary (benefactors – Mr. and Mrs. Gevork and Sirvard Hovnanian, adjacent the Auditorium of the Seminary was also built; benefactors-Gerard and Patrisia Trbanյian ), the Old Patriarchal Residence (benefactors - Mr. and Mrs. Berge and Vera Setrakian), Khrimian Museum (benefactors - Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis and Ruth Bedevian),the Publishing House (benefactors – Mr. and Mrs. Vatche and Tamar Manoukian), the Yeremian Building (benefactors – Mr. and Mrs. Edward and Janet Mardigian ), the Synod Building (benefactor – WCC Armenia Round Table Foundation), the Ghazarapat Refectory (which was converted into the ''Ruben Sevak'' Museum; benefactors – Mr. and Mrs. Hovhannes and Irma Chilingirian).

After the implementations of such various large and small constructions and reparations parallel to the spiritual mission, His Holiness embarked on the problem solution of the Patriarchal residence.

Various devoted Armenian benefactors offered their support. Being informed about the renovation project of the Pontifical Residence, the Karapetyans' family wanted to undertake the complete renovation of the Residence with their patriotic soul.
Mr. Samvel Karapetyan's name is associated with large-scale charities both in Armenia and abroad for the benefit of the Armenian people and the preservation of their historical heritage. Perhaps, the charities concerning the preservation of the Armenian spiritual culture and heritage are stand out among the others. Over the last twenty years, the Karapetyans family has had his significant contribution to the renovation of the Armenian spiritual heritage and the construction of new Chapels, often without socialization of these facts. The Charity programs in different spheres have also been implemented by the benefactor family.

From 2010 to 2019, with the authoritative donation of Mr. and Mrs. Karapetyans, the Pontifical Residence was completely renovated and embellished.

There are the waiting room, the working room, the private room and the dining room of His Holiness, on the left side of the ground floor of the Pontifical Residence, as well as, there is the museum, which embraces the high-quality works of the Armenian goldsmiths’ and silversmiths’ art. And there are the Conference Hall of the Supreme Spiritual Council and the offices of the staff of the Residence on the right side of the same floor.

The central luxurious and effulgent staircase leads to the first floor. Just in the central corridor, the large throne hall opens with two entrances, and the manuscript house is on the right side of it. On the same floor, one can also find the Catholicos' library, the cozy throne room, which houses the onyx Patriarchal Throne with its symbols made in the reign of Catholicos Vazgen I by the order of His Holiness.

On the upper floor of the Patriarchal residence, two highly artistic historical cross-stones are also gloriously installed (Noravank, 1308; the work of Fr. Momik; Artsakh, 1640). On the west side - parallel to the Pontifical Residence, under the donation of the Karapetyans' family, an Event Auditorium has also been built, which is bridged to the Residence trough a pair of overground passageways. On the right and left sides of the spacious stage of that luminous hall, the symbols of two key events in our national-ecclesiastical history are engraved: the construction of Holy Etchmiadzin according to the vision of St. Gregory the Illuminator and the re-establishment of the Catholicosate of All Armenians in the Holy Etchmiadzin in 1441.

Within the vaulted enclosure of the hall, under the honest donation of the Karapetyans family the Chapel of Holy Patriarchs has been built, which has been decorated with beautiful ornamentations typical to the Armenian art, with symbols of the evangelists, and the drum column has been presented with the full-length engravings of the twelve apostles. With a wonderful advice and a deep massage, the Lord’s disciples are appeared as spiritual and secular figures that were of great service to the Church, the Homeland and the Nation.

The renovation and enlargement works of the Pontifical Residence have been gloriously completed with the harmonious embellishment of the garden and surrounding area.