Feast Of The Catholicon Of Holy Etchmiadzin

“The Only-Begotten descended from the Father, and the light of glory with Him.”

(Hymn)

There are feasts that are not merely commemorations on the Church calendar, but occasions that awaken within us a deep sense of memory, love, and belonging. Such a feast is the Feast of the Catholicon of Holy Etchmiadzin. When we remember Holy Etchmiadzin, we remember not only a cathedral, but also the prayers, tears, hopes, and faith of our people.

Centuries ago, in the vision of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, Christ descended from heaven and showed the place where the spiritual center of the Armenian people was to be built. At that moment, the land was sanctified by the presence of God, and the Lord’s words became a reality: “The place on which you are standing is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). From that day on, Holy Etchmiadzin became not only a sanctuary built of stone, but a spiritual home where Armenians have found comfort, strength, and hope throughout the centuries.

When we reflect on the history of our people, we see how many trials we have endured—wars, exile, losses, and hardships. Yet there is one thing that has never left us: our faith. And one of the greatest living symbols of that faith is the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. It has been the spiritual heart of our nation, from which love, prayer, and blessings have spread to Armenians living in every corner of the world.

Even today, when the world is filled with anxiety and uncertainty, the Feast of the Catholicon onf Holy Etchmiadzin reminds us that we are not alone. We belong to a people with a rich spiritual heritage and a living faith. We have a home whose doors are always open for prayer, repentance, and an encounter with God.

The Feast of the Catholicon of Holy Etchmiadzin is also an invitation to each one of us. Christ desires to descend not only upon the Holy Altar of Etchmiadzin, but also into our hearts. If our hearts are open to love, faith, and prayer, they too can become little Etchmiadzins—dwelling places of God's presence. Let us pray that Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin may always remain the spiritual light and guide of our people, and that we may never depart from the faith that our ancestors handed down to us through their prayers and love.

Deacon MIKAYEL MARGARYAN