During two days that combined splendid pageantry with profound spiritual significance, the worldwide Armenian Church bore witness to a historic chapter in the life of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
It began on Saturday, September 28, with the “Blessing of the Holy Muron”: the grand ceremony sanctifying the holy oil employed in the church’s sacraments across the globe.
His Holiness Karekin II, the 132nd Catholicos of All Armenians, led the service, assisted by a retinue of bishops from throughout the worldwide Armenian Church. These included our own Primate, Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, who played a role in the Muron ceremony by serving as one of the oil-bearers who conveyed the Balm Muron, or the “Oil of Healing,” to the great caldron to be incorporated into the Holy Muron.
Against a backdrop of painful recent years—which have witnessed war against our homeland, and the ethnic cleansing of Armenians from Artsakh—the Catholicos was explicit in his conviction that the rarely-performed sanctification of holy oil, coupled with the historic re-opening of a restored and fortified Mother Cathedral, should herald a positive turning point in the modern experience of the Armenian people.
“Let this new Holy Muron be a Muron of Hope and Renewal,” he announced in a sermon during the blessing ceremony: “a radiant testimony to our resolve to revive our national life, and to our steadfastness in overcoming both internal and external challenges, as we shape a prosperous future.”
In addition to the thousands of faithful Armenian Christians taking part in the service, the Muron Blessing was attended by dignitaries from sister churches, the Armenian and international governments, and Armenian communities around the world. The Godfather of the Muron Blessing was Samvel Karapetyan, of Moscow.
A Magnificent Restoration
The following day, Sunday, September 29, marked the re-opening and re-consecration of the Mother Cathedral after a comprehensive, decade-long restoration. Once again, the Catholicos of Armenians celebrated the Pontifical Divine Liturgy, during which he sanctified the altar using the new Holy Muron.
As the vast procession of clergy entered the sanctuary, it was clear that the restoration had been a magnificent success, with exquisite details of architecture and artwork that had lain hidden for centuries now revealed at last, for the edification of present and future generations of worshippers.
Catholicos Karekin’s sermon for the occasion was a soaring tribute to the indispensable role that the Mother See has played throughout Armenian history—and the love it has evoked from its faithful.
“Holy Etchmiadzin, founded by the Lord,” His Holiness said, “with its Mother Cathedral built by the Illuminator, is the testament to our eternal covenant with God: the age-old witness of our collective determination to live in devotion to God and the homeland; the bright beacon of our national and ecclesiastical home…. Holy Etchmiadzin is the perpetual presence of God in our lives, steadfast and invincible.”
He continued: “Any attempt to debase the mission of Holy Etchmiadzin is an attempt to weaken our nation, to undermine the foundations of an independent and sovereign life, of which the Armenian Church is the advocate and defender. Filial warmth and zeal toward Holy Etchmiadzin on the part of the Armenian people scattered across the world strengthens our homeland and the unity of our people, making it powerful and inviolable. This gold-anchored holy place, established by Christ, will always be the axis of our national and spiritual life; for Holy Etchmiadzin, with its gaze fixed upon Ararat, is set apart by God: holy and imperishable.”
Once again, an impressive crowd of faithful Armenian Christians filled the cathedral and its surrounding grounds, to witness and take part in a moment of history. Joining them were dignitaries from sister churches, the international diplomatic corps, and Armenian communities around the world. Armenia’s Prime Minister Pashinyan led the delegation of high-ranking officials of the Armenian government.
The conclusion of the re-consecration was an occasion for Catholicos Karekin II to bestow special honors on a group of benefactors who supported the restoration of the Mother Cathedral—a number of whom hailed from North America, and from the Eastern Diocese in particular. His Holiness conferred the “Order of Holy Etchmiadzin” and “Daughter of Holy Etchmiadzin” medals on Dr. Noubar and Anna Afeyan, Mrs. Elza Didizian, Drs. Eric and Melina Esrailian, Samvel and Eteri Karapetyan, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian, Nver and Elena Mkhitaryan, Berge and Vera Setrakian, Hratch and Suzanne Toufayan, and Mrs. Anahit Yacoubian.
Watch and Share in the Ceremonies
The video broadcasts and photos of the entire weekend truly speak for themselves, and readers are encouraged to view the recordings and galleries on the Mother See’s Internet platforms:
- YOUTUBE: Shoghagat TV channel.
- FACEBOOK: Holy Etchmiadzin page.
Click the following links to read Catholicos Karekin II’s messages, in English and Armenian:
- READ: The Muron of Hope and Renewal (on the Muron Blessing).
- READ: On Holy Ground (his sermon for the Reconsecration).
Finally, throughout the sacred ceremonies, Bishop Mesrop kept a running social-media “diary” to share his thoughts and experiences with the faithful. Click the links below to read his spiritual reflections:
- READ: The Seal of Identity
- READ: The Balm of Healing
- READ: Distributing the Holy Muron