Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On February 14, on the Feast Day of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ to the Temple, with the Blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; a Divine Liturgy was offered in the St. Gayane Monastery. The Celebrant was Proto-Archimandrite Zakaria Baghumyan, Director of the Center for Christian Education.

In his sermon at the Divine Liturgy, Archimandrite Zakaria reflected on the sacrament of the Feast- the importance of the meeting between man and God.

“That expected meeting can fundamentally change the life of each of us, transform, rearrange our priorities and ideas towards the same life, enabling the major to be distinguished from the secondary, the timeless from temporal, the spiritual from material, and the homeland from plain land. Only in this case, we will start to look at our experiences, trials, behavior of people around us with different eyes and pay more attention to spiritual and moral values, that is, we will think and act Christianly. And then the God-given life will become more interesting and purposeful, and temporary difficulties and storms will be overcome by the Lord”, stated Proto-Archimandrite Zakaria Baghumyan, adding that the encounter with God becomes more complete when we participate in the Divine Liturgy and receive Holy Communion.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, under the presidency of His Grace Bishop Moushegh Babayan, Grand Sacristan of the Mother See, a Service of Blessing of the newly married was offered.

Afterwards, the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II received the newly married deacons serving in various structures of the Mother See, accompanied by His Grace Bishop Moushegh Babayan.

His Holiness conveyed his appreciation and Patriarchal message to the deacons, noting that for him, as the Armenian Patriarch, it is pleasant to see how the deacons form families. His Holiness expressed confidence that by God's will, many of them will bring their dedicated service to the Armenian Church as married priests.

The Armenian Patriarch wished the young couples happiness, be loving and compassionate to each other and may God's peace and love always be present in their new families.