Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On March 30, Holy Saturday, the eve of the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; the Brotherhood of the Mother See, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; participated in the Candlelight Divine Liturgy in St. Gayane Monastery. The Celebrant was His Grace Bishop Artak Tigranyan, Dean of the Monasteries of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

Prior to the Divine Liturgy, the Evening Services were held, following which different parts of the Bible were read, following which four Deacons of the Mother See read letters of the Prophet Daniel.

His Grace Bishop Artak, referring to the sacrament of Resurrection in his sermon, specifically mentioned: The words, " He is not here, but is arisen" (Luke 24:6), with which the angel greeted the oil-bearing women who visited Christ's tomb, sound like good news for all of us. However, after the burial of Christ, the disciples' minds, which were in uncertainty, was not able to perceive the joy hidden in these words. To dispel the darkness of uncertainty and despair, after the resurrection, Christ appears in various places to His disciples and to many other people who follow Him”.

Then, referring to the Savior's post-resurrection appearances, in particular the episode of the Emmaus travelers mentioned in the Gospel of Luke, the Bishop emphasized: "On this evening of the candlelight of the Holy Resurrection, we see that we have traveled a long way with Christ, longer than the eleven kilometers separating Jerusalem from Emmaus. We have come and reached a milestone where each of us must make the most important decision of his life to accept the Risen Lord in our souls and hearts."

At the conclusion, His Grace Bishop Artak urged the faithful people to hold firmly the hand of the Risen Lord and walk without stumbling on the road leading to eternal life, where the loving and generous Father awaits us with open arms.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Catholicos of All Armenians ascended the Holy Altar and lit a candle, symbolizing the light of Christ, which was distributed to the believers.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the Brotherhood of the Mother See went to the Pontifical Residence, where, under the presidency of the Pontiff of All Armenians an Easter Home-Blessing Service was offered.