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: info@ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: nian.htm
SEMINARY STUDENTS CELEBRATE THE GREATEST SAINT AND PATRON OF THE ARMENIAN
CHURCH
On 20 March 2009, the seminary students organized a special evening to
celebrate St. Gregory the Illuminator, the founder of the Armenian Orthodox
Church in 301 A.D.
The celebration took place on the eve of the Feast commemorating the
"Imprisonment of Saint Gregory in a pit in Ararat Plain and his release
after 15 years." The date of his release from the pit is also that of the
Baptism of the King and the declaration of Christian Armenia. In the Church
Calendar the Feast is also known as the Holy Feast of Pilgrimage.
Very Reverend Krikor Chiftjian was the speaker of the day. He described St.
Gregory the Illuminator as the greatest "Revolutionary", who succeeded in
converting a whole nation to Christianity despite persecution and
difficulties. He went on to say that St. Gregory was a devout Christian who
overcame persecution and established the Armenian church, which had existed
as the underground church since the two disciples Saints Thaddeus and
Bartholomew had come to preach in Armenia.
Father Krikor then referred to the relics of the saint, and said that the
Armenian Church honours the relics because they sanctify the Church. He
added that some non-Armenian communities consider Saint Gregory the
Illuminator as their patron Saint.
The last speaker, Father Varant, who brought the evening into its
conclusion, said that the legacy of the founder of the Armenian Church
should be transmitted from generation to generation.
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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 Theological
Seminary 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.