Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

This year, the Fast of the Catechumens starts on February 11. The Fasting of the Catechumens is specific only to the Armenian Church. It begins three weeks before Great Lent. According to tradition, the Fasting of the Catechumens was initiated by St. Gregory the Illuminator, in commemoration of the adoption of Christianity as the official religion of Armenia.