PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
THE PILGRIMAGE DAY AND SAINT GREGORY’S ENTRY INTO "KHOR VIRAB" (DEEP
PIT) CELEBRATED IN ANTELIAS
The last ten days became historical for the Armenian Church and the
Catholicosate of Cilicia in particular. The "Pilgrimage Day" in Antelias,
the placement of Saint Gregory the Illuminator’s relics in the Cathedral,
the meeting of the Cilician Brotherhood and the Primates, the full session
of the National Executive Council, the session of the Mixed Assembly- all
provided opportunities for spiritual renewal and administrative
organization.
Furthermore, the Holy Liturgy held every year on "Pilgrimage Day" marking
the start of Saint Gregory the Illuminator’s imprisonment in Khor Virab
(deep pit) and the procession with the Saint’s Right Hand Relic became
unique and historical events this year.
The large crowd of believers gathered in Antelias on March 25 experienced
great spiritual satisfaction when His Holiness Aram I placed Saint Gregory
the Illuminator’s relic in its new resting place in the Cathedral. Believers
followed the service emotionally knowing that from now on they will be able
to kneel before the relic of the Armenian Church’s Patron Saint any time.
The celebrant was Archbishop Gomidas Ohanian. The Catholicosate’s
"Shenorhali" Choir performed the badarak under the guidance of Rev. Magar
Ashkarian.
In his Pontifical address, His Holiness first spoke about the life and
sacrifices of the Armenian nation’s greatest Saint, moving on to the
Armenians’ conversion to Christianity, which he considered a Spiritual
Revolution. The Pontiff stressed that Saint Gregory’s legacy is for his
nation to continue this revolution.
His Holiness warned all Armenians from those foreign movements, which
under the "spiritual" label, offer "spiritual experiences" that aim to
foreignism and are unacceptable by our Church.
"Yes, we will live spiritual renewal, but through our church and remaining
loyal to its traditions. If we want to be loyal to Saint Gregory the
Illuminator, we should engage in a spiritual revolution with a renewed faith
and a committed will. This can not be done by following false experiences
and cheap propaganda; this can be done by reevaluating our church’s values
in the life of our nation," he said.
"As in the past, today and in the future as well, the Catholicosate of
Cilicia will be the torch-bearer for the holy mission of our nation’s
spiritual renewal. A renewal with religious and moral teachings, responding
to the needs of the poor and the deprived, but always through our church’s
traditions and values." He added.
Finally, the Pontiff spoke about the placement of Saint Gregory’s relic in
its permanent resting place on the Holy Trinity Altar of the Cathedral in
Antelias. He pointed out that the faithful will receive the blessings of the
Saint with his gold-coated Holy Right Hand once every year on the Antelias
"Pilgrimage Day". However, the Patron Saint of the Armenian Church will,
from now on, be a daily presence in the faithful lives as a relic from his
remains will be placed in the Cathedral, where the faithful can visit him,
kneel down and pray.
At the end of the Service the procession of Cilician Brotherhood members,
priests and Seminary students headed by His Holiness Aram I made a round
tour in the courtyard of the Catholicosate. Returning to the Cathedral, the
Pontiff and the priests went up the Holy Trinity altar, where His Holiness
ceremoniously placed Saint Gregory the Illuminator’s relic in a stone-carved
box. The box was first washed with water and wine and then anointed with
Holy Chrism by the Catholicos.
The priests then guided the Catholicos to the main altar where the
water-blessing service was held with the Right Hand of Saint Gregory the
Illuminator. The Cilician Brotherhood members participated in the service,
blessing the faithful with the Righ Hands and relics of other saints.
The Catholicos then said the "Paradia" prayer for the sick and a special
prayer for the strengthening of belief.
After the water-blessing service Saint Gregory the Illuminator’s Right
Hand was placed on the main altar under the supervision of Cilician
Brotherhood members. Armenian and foreign faithful continued visiting the
Cathedral until late at night to kiss the relic. The faithful also visited
the Holy Trinity altar where they knelt down before Saint Gregory’s relic,
praying to God.
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View the photos here:
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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
