Pilgrimage

PILGRIMAGE TO "CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST IN GANDZASAR"

On the birthday of St. JOHN THE BAPTIST, with the blessing of the leader of the Artsakh diocese, Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, the Artsakh diocese organized a pilgrimage to the Church of St. John the Baptist in Gandzasar.

Under the chairmanship of the leader of the Artsakh Diocese, Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan and the leader of the Tavush Diocese, Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the pastor of the city of Martakert, the ceremonial priest of the Gandzasar monastery, Father Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, served the liturgy, and the council of the day was presented by Father Mesrop Mkrtchyan, pastor of the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Askeran.

This time, the clergy of the Tavush diocese headed by Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the parents of the dead and missing fighters and the faithful of the Artsakh diocese arrived in Gandzasar on a pilgrimage. Despite the cold weather of the day, the church was crowded and overfilled with love.

The sensations were different and exciting. Faithful armenian pilgrims either found joy in an atmosphere of love and unity, or remembered the past ill-fated war with its wounds. In his sermon, Father Mesrop Mkrtchyan spoke about his former place of service, about the years of service in the church of St. John the Baptist in Shushi, remembering how this day was celebrated on a large scale before the war.

Several Armenians from different parts of Armenia should convey to all Armenians the light emanating from the relics of the Church of John the Baptist in Gandzasar, as a symbol of the salvation of souls and as a symbol of the restoration and revival of Artsakh. At the end of the liturgy, a memorial service was served in memory of our fallen soldiers. The clergy prayed for the return of the missing Armenians and our captured sons. The priests blessed the pilgrims. After the liturgy, a sacrifice and a meal were served.

We express our special gratitude to the government of the Artsakh Republic for its constant assistance on various occasions in the movement of pilgrims.

May the God strengthen the Armenian world and native Artsakh.