- This year is celebrated in::
2025-01-28
The quick spreading of Christianity especially on the territory of the Roman Empire since the 3rd century started to worry the kings. Royal charters were issued ordering the Christians to adopt the heathen religion, otherwise they should be persecuted to death. During that period of persecutions any Christians preferred to die than to Betray Jesus Christ.
The Church always appreciated the torments of the people for the sake of Christ, their courage and strength of their faith. Among such people are the martyrs Eugenios and Makarios, martyred during the reign of the King Julianos the Betrayer. Martyrs Valerios, Canditos and Akyoughas have been martyred during the reign of the Kings Diokletianos and Maximianos.
Commemorating the martyrs’ memory, the Church teaches the faithful to remain loyal to Christ even under most severe circumstances.
Captian Andre is a Uni-Christian saint, who was martyred for the sake of spreading of Christianity. He was from Cilicia and lived during the period of reign of the Roman Emperor Dioklethianos. As a high-ranking officer he served in the Royal Army of Syria and he was a Christian.
During the war against Persians, when his Army consisting of nearly 600 soldiers was forced to retreat, the brave Captain encouraged the soldiers by the name of Jesus Christ and returning the Army to the field of battle, won the war. Following the victory the whole Army converted to Christianity. General Commander of the entire Army, becoming aware of that fact, sent armed forces and killed all Christian soldiers in the gorge of Turos.
Kalinikos was a Christian from Galatia. Being a seller of vegetable oil, he moved from one place to another and preached the Christian faith. He was imprisoned and forced to renounce Christ; he refused, and being subjected to severe torments, was martyred.
Dometios was from a noble Christian family from Tarson. He was the contemporary of the Emperor Dioklethianos. Being a physician, he traveled to various places and healed the needy patients by means of both his medical knowledge and skills and the strength of his faith. Meanwhile he consoled the Christians who were being subjected to torments. However, soon he was imprisoned and was taken to Nicomedia for being subjected to trial. Despite his great desire to be martyred, while being carried for subjecting to torments, on this way he stopped for a minute to pray and passed away.
When is celebrated
05.08.2008
27.01.2009
15.11.2010
14.11.2011
03.09.2012
06.08.2013
28.01.2014
04.08.2015
14.11.2016
04.09.2017
03.09.2018
29.01.2019
28.01.2020
15.11.2021
14.11.2022
04.09.2023
06.08.2024
28.01.2025
04.08.2026
15.11.2027
04.09.2028
03.09.2029
29.01.2030
- This year is celebrated in::
2025-01-30
St. Adrianos was a high-ranking officer, who served in the Roman Army during the reign of the Roman Emperor Maximianos. Initially he was heathen and subjected Christians to persecutions. However, witnessing the Christians’ courage and patience and thanks to the prayers and efforts of his wife – Anatolia, he finally becomes Christian. For conversion to Christianity he is imprisoned and subjected to most severe torments and is martyred in 310 A. D. Anatolia, who encouraged the prisoners during the persecutions realized against Christians, exhorted them to remain loyal to their faith. She served the imprisoned Christians so devotedly that received the name “sister of martyrs”. After the death of her husband she leaves for Byzantine and lives there.
St. Theodoros served as a captain in the Roman Army during the reign of the Roman Emperor Likianos. Despite the fact that Likianos had signed with Kostandianos a Charter on liberating Christians, changes his decision and starts persecutions against Christians. Becoming aware that Theodoros is Christian and, moreover, converts other people to Christianity, Likianos orders him to give up his faith and to follow his previous faith. Thodoros prefers to be subjected to torments than to renounce Christ. Upon the king’s order he is severely beaten, bound to the wooden cross with his head downwards and is beheaded in 319 A. D.
St. Elevturos has lived in Galatia during the reign of the King Dekos. One of the citizens of Galatia criticizes the King Koumvria for his cruelty and as the result of criticism is beheaded. Elevturos, who attended the ceremony of beheading, more strictly criticizes the court and is persecuted for that, but miraculously escapes death. Witnessing the miarcle, many heathens become Christian, and among them - the heathen priest Kalinikos, who proclaims himself Christian and is beheaded. Elevturous, enduring many torments, passes away.
When is celebrated
07.08.2008
29.01.2009
16.11.2010
15.11.2011
04.09.2012
08.08.2013
30.01.2014
06.08.2015
15.11.2016
05.09.2017
04.09.2018
31.01.2019
30.01.2020
16.11.2021
15.11.2022
05.09.2023
08.09.2024
30.01.2025
06.08.2026
16.11.2027
05.09.2028
04.09.2029
31.01.2030
- This year is celebrated in::
2025-01-27
The quick spreading of Christianity especially on the territory of the Roman Empire since the 3rd century started to worry the kings. Royal charters were issued ordering the Christians to adopt the heathen religion, otherwise they should be persecuted to death. During that period of persecutions any Christians preferred to die than to Betray Jesus Christ.
The Church always appreciated the torments of the people for the sake of Christ, their courage and strength of their faith. Among such people are the martyrs Eugenios and Makarios, martyred during the reign of the King Julianos the Betrayer. Martyrs Valerios, Canditos and Akyoughas have been martyred during the reign of the Kings Dioclethianus and Maximianus.
Commemorating the martyrs’ memory, the Church teaches the faithful to remain loyal to Christ even under most severe circumstances.
When is celebrated
04.08.2008
27.01.2009
05.08.2010
27.01.2011
26.01.2012
05.08.2013
27.01.2014
03.08.2015
04.08.2016
26.01.2017
02.08.2018
28.01.2019
27.01.2020
05.08.2021
27.01.2022
26.01.2023
05.08.2024
27.01.2025
03.08.2026
05.08.2027
27.01.2028
02.08.2029
28.01.2030
- This year is celebrated in::
2025-01-23
Vahan of Goghten was the son of Prince Khosrov, the Governor of the province of Goghten. In childhood, together with many other Armenian princes, he was captivated by the Arabs and was taken to Damask, where is circumcised and renamed Vahab.
Vahan was a very clever and skilled young man. Receiving proper education he undertook various responsibilities in the royal court. Despite the fact that he was brought up and educated in Arabic environment, Vahan knew about his ancestors. He hadn’t forgotten that he had been Christian and came from a noble family. In 719 AD The Armenian Pontiff Hovhannes of Odzoun paid a visit to the Governor of Damask, and upon his request the Governor allowed the captives to return to their homeland. Taking the opportunity Vahan also expressed wish to visit his homeland and was allowed on condition of returning. Reaching Armenia, Vahan became aware of the Governor’s death and took a decision to remain in his homeland. He married the daughter of the Prince Babken, the Governor of Syounik province, and lived there. However, the New Governor of Damask began the searches for Vahan. The latter concealing himself, wandered in his homeland, in Georgia, visited many churches and monasteries and finally stopped in the town Routsap, in Syria. Rejecting the governor’s suggestion to change his faith, he was martyred in 737 AD. On the day of the saint’s commemoration a special church hymn is sung, the author of which is his sister Khosrovidoukht.
When is celebrated
28.07.2008
26.01.2009
02.08.2010
25.01.2011
24.01.2012
30.07.2013
23.01.2014
22.01.2015
01.08.2016
24.01.2017
31.07.2018
22.01.2019
23.01.2020
02.08.2021
25.01.2022
24.01.2023
30.06.2024
23.01.2025
22.01.2026
29.07.2027
25.01.2028
31.07.2029
22.01.2030
- This year is celebrated in::
2025-01-23
Philippus was a Roman nobleman. Being appointed the Governor of Egypt, together with his family he moved to Alexandria. Eugine, the daughter of Philippus, upon his father advice began to study in Alexandria. During the studies she read the Apostle St. Paul’s epistles with great interest. Believing in Christ, Eugine and her two servants were baptized and became Christians. Then wearing man’s clothing, she entered a monastery and later became the Abbess. A young woman fell in love with Eugine and being refused by her, blamed her in an attempt to rape. Facing the judge, who was her father, Eugine was forced to reveal the truth and to identify herself. Her father and other relatives, listening from Eugine about the Savior, became Christians. Becoming aware of that reality, the Emperor ordered to kill Philippus. Their family moved to Rome, where they were beheaded because of being Christians. Eugine was beheaded on the day of the Holy Feast of Nativity and Theophany. Soon after that Eugine’s mother - Klothia, was martyred, too.
When is celebrated
31.07.2008
26.01.2009
03.08.2010
25.01.2011
24.01.2012
30.07.2013
23.01.2014
03.08.2015
01.08.2016
24.01.2017
31.07.2018
22.01.2019
23.01.2020
03.08.2021
25.01.2022
24.01.2023
30.06.2024
23.01.2025
03.08.2026
02.08.2027
25.01.2028
31.07.2029
22.01.2030
- This year is celebrated in::
2025-01-21
Judithah was a God-loving and pious woman. She had a three-year-old son, whose name was Kirakos. When persecutions against the Christians began, she left for Tarson. But she did not live a quiet and peaceful life there as the persecutions were being continued in Tarson, too. The saint woman was imprisoned and subjected to torments. Little Kirakos, seeing his mother’s sufferings cried, but despite the judge’s kindness and warm attitude, he was strengthened by his faith towards Christ and all the time repeated his mother’s words: “I am Christian and I worship Jesus Christ”. The baby tried by all means to get free from the judge’s hands and to go to his mother. He struck the judge in the hand and the annoyed judge threw the baby down the stairs. Knocking his head against a stone, the baby died. His mother rendered glory to God that her son was martyred, but did not betray Our Savior Jesus Christ. She was subjected to indescribable torments and finally was beheaded. This event took place in 305 AD The Armenian Church has dedicated a church hymn to St. Kirakos.
When is celebrated
24.07.2008
22.01.2009
21.01.2010
24.01.2011
23.01.2012
29.07.2013
21.01.2014
22.01.2015
28.07.2016
23.01.2017
30.07.2018
21.01.2019
21.01.2020
21.01.2021
24.01.2022
23.01.2023
29.06.2024
21.01.2025
22.01.2026
27.07.2027
24.01.2028
30.07.2029
21.01.2030
- This year is celebrated in::
2025-01-21
Gordios was a Captain from Caesaria. His parents were pious Christians. He served in the Royal Army during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian’s. Witnessing many cases of unfairness and injustice, he was isolated and devoted himself to God. When the Emperor Likianus started the persecutions against Christians, Gordios went to Caesaria and confessed to the heathen crowd that he was Christian and started to preach them the Truth. He was imprisoned and forced to offer sacrifice to the idols. But St. Gordios remained unshaken in his faith. After severe torments he passed away in 320 AD. Christians gathered his relics and buried them.
Poghiktos is the first martyr of the Armenian town Melitene. Thanks to his friend he adopted Christianity. He prohibited the reading of the King’s Charter before the idols and tore it into pieces. For that deed he was martyred being beheaded. in 259 AD.
Grigoris has been martyred in 549 AD as the result of persecutions of the Persian king Denshapouh. Grigoris was Persian by nationality. Before baptism his name was Manajihr. During the reign of the Armenian Governor Mzhezh Gnouni he left for Armenia and was baptized and received a new name – Grigoris. Afterwards he entered a monastery and began to lead monastic life. When the King Denshapouh came to Armenia and found out that in the past Grigoris had been fire-worshipper, forced him to return to his old faith. But St. Grigoris did not betray Christ and was martyred.
When is celebrated
28.07.2008
22.01.2009
02.08.2010
24.01.2011
23.01.2012
29.07.2013
21.01.2014
22.01.2015
28.07.2016
23.01.2017
30.07.2018
21.01.2019
21.01.2020
02.08.2021
24.01.2022
23.01.2023
29.06.2024
21.01.2025
22.01.2026
29.07.2027
24.01.2028
30.07.2029
21.01.2030
- This year is celebrated in::
2025-01-25
Patriarchs St. Athanasius and St. Cyril are among the most prominent figures of the Universal Church, who devoted their lives to the promulgation of the orthodoxy of Christianity, and the struggle against false conceptions and erroneous teachings.
St. Athanasius (295-373 A.D.) was born in Alexandria, to a Greek Christian family. He received his higher education in the famous Theological School of Alexandria. He was ordained to the diaconate by Patriarch Alexander of Alexandria, and participated in the Ecumenical Council of Nicea in 325, as the Patriarch’s personal secretary. During the council he decisively defeated Arius and his followers who denied the Divine nature of Christ and purported that He was a created being. In his argument St. Athanasius stated the reality of Christ being God and explained the salvation in combining the human nature of Jesus with God, which is possible only through His incarnation. According to the formulation of St. Athanasius, salvation is nothing else but theosis – being adopted by God. Athanasius stated that God became incarnate, “so that sons of mortal men should become sons of God.”
In 328, St. Athanasius became Bishop of Alexandria. He continued to struggle against Arianism and forcefully defended the Nicene Orthodox teaching. Having been subjected to repeated persecutions, he spent 15 of his 47-year episcopal service in exile. His heroic efforts bore fruit, and eight years following his death his teachings were adopted by the Ecumenical Council of Constantinople, in 381. St. Athanasius made very significant contributions to the development of monastic life as well.
Patriarch St. Cyril of Alexandria is one of the brilliant representatives of the Alexandrian Theological School. He was born in 380, and was the nephew of Patriarch Theophilus, whom he succeeded in 412. He struggled against Nestorius, the Patriarch of Constantinople, for the preservation of orthodox teaching. It was for this purpose that Emperor Theodoros II convened the Third Ecumenical Council in Ephesus, in 431. During the Council, Nestorius and his teachings were criticized and condemned, and the formulation of “Theotokos” (Birthgiver to God) was adopted by the Church as it related to St. Mary. The famous formulation of St. Cyril: “The one incarnate nature of God the Word”, has become the cornerstone of the Armenian Church regarding the nature of Christ.
When is celebrated
26.07.2008
24.01.2009
23.01.2010
22.01.2011
21.01.2012
27.07.2013
25.01.2014
01.08.2015
23.07.2016
21.01.2017
28.07.2018
26.01.2019
25.01.2020
23.01.2021
22.01.2022
21.01.2023
27.06.2024
25.01.2025
01.08.2026
31.07.2027
22.01.2028
28.07.2029
26.01.2030
- This year is celebrated in::
2025-01-20
King and distinguished Captain Theodos, who is called also Theodos the Great, is known to the Christian world as the greatest advocate and supporter of Orthodoxy.
In 379 being appointed the king of the East, pious Theodos allowed all the orthodox Bishops exiled upon the order of the previous king to return to their countries. According to the book “Life of the Saints” among them was the Armenian Pontiff St. Nerses. Another important step directed to the strengthening of the orthodox faith became the Ecumenical Council of Constantinople convened upon the order of the King Theodos in 381.
The modest behavior of the pious Christian is exemplary. When as punishment for the massacre of the people organized in Thessalonica the Bishop of Milan prohibited Theodos to enter the church, the king obeyed and entered the church only after repenting for 8 months.
On the day of commemoration of the King Theodos the Armenian Church commemorates also the memory of the 7 children of Ephesus. 7 noble young men from Ephesus were secretly baptized and became Christians. For adopting Christianity they were persecuted by the king Dekos and hid themselves in the cave of the nearby mountain (Voghkos). By God’s will they fell sleep in the cave for 140 years and woke up only in 389, during the period of reign of the king Theodos. When people became aware of that divine miracle, the king and the residents of Ephesus met the persecuted Christians with great respect and honor. Returning to their cave the 7 young men passed away. They were buried in the same cave, upon which later a magnificent church was built.
When is celebrated
22.07.2008
20.01.2009
19.01.2010
20.01.2011
19.01.2012
19.01.2013
20.01.2014
20.01.2015
26.07.2016
19.01.2017
20.10.2018
19.01.2019
20.01.2020
19.01.2021
20.01.2022
19.01.2023
20.01.2024
20.01.2025
20.01.2026
26.07.2027
20.01.2028
20.10.2029
19.01.2030
- This year is celebrated in::
2025-08-01
St. Triphon the Hermit was martyred in the town Nicaea during the reign of the king Dekos, the hermit St. Parsam the Hermit lived in the deserts of Syria in the middle of the fifth century, and the hermit St. Vonoprios the Hermit was born in Egypt in the fourth century. After living in the monastery for a while Vonoprios moved to the desert and lived there for 60 years without meeting anyone. Like many other hermits, Vonoprios healed many sick people. That is why people pray especially to that saint for healing children and in case of difficult confinement.
When is celebrated
29.07.2008
19.01.2009
18.01.2010
18.01.2011
17.01.2012
01.08.2013
18.01.2014
19.01.2015
02.08.2016
17.01.2017
18.01.2018
24.01.2019
18.01.2020
18.01.2021
18.01.2022
17.01.2023
01.08.2024
18.01.2025
19.01.2026
03.08.2027
18.01.2028
18.01.2029
24.01.2030
- This year is celebrated in::
2025-01-18
Some time after the spreading of Christianity the hermits’ movement started. Hermits were those persons who devoted themselves to God, went to uninhabited places and deserts and spent their life there praying and fasting. Thus, by God’s will they overcame the human faults and attained spiritual perfection. After many years of ascetic life the hermits were granted the grace of working wonders and healing the sick by means of prayers.
St. Anton the Hermit is the founder of ascetic and monastic life. He was born in the village Koma, Egypt, in 251, in a noble family. After his parents’ death Anton inherited their wealth. Once in the church he listened the evangelical commandment, in which Jesus says: “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me.” (Mt 19:21). Being led by this commandment, Anton sold all of his property and lived in the spirit of praying, fasting and doing charity. After some time he left his native village and began to live in a cave, where according the hagiographers he struggled against the demons and devils who constantly appeared to him in the appearance of wild beasts. Patiently facing all temptations the saint left for a desert and lived there completely isolated for 20 years. Becoming aware of his ascetic and secluded life, many people left their houses and went the desert to live ascetic life. Upon the request of his spiritual brothers St. Anton came out of his cave and explained the assembled people monastic cannons and rules, which later became the guideline for monastic life. The saint passed away at the age of 105.
When is celebrated
21.07.2008
19.01.2009
18.01.2010
18.01.2011
17.01.2012
17.01.2013
18.01.2014
19.01.2015
25.07.2016
17.01.2017
18.01.2018
17.01.2019
18.01.2020
18.01.2021
18.01.2022
17.01.2023
18.01.2024
18.01.2025
19.01.2026
24.07.2027
18.01.2028
18.01.2029
17.01.2030
- This year is celebrated in::
2025-01-16
Patriarch St. Peter of Alexandria and Deacon Abisolom are important saints of the Universal Church. At the beginning of the 4th century being the Patriarch of Alexandria, St. Peter thanks to the strength of his faith and with the support of the Deacon Abisolom led and protected his flock during the period of reign of the kings Dioclethianus, Galerius and Maximianus, who persecuted the Christians. Because of the intensification of persecutions and upon the insistence of the local community the Patriarch left for Palestine and Mesopotamia. However, becoming aware of Christians’ martyrdoms, he immediately returned to Alexandria and soon he was imprisoned. By the wish of the saint, and also fearing of the people’s indignation, the soldiers don’t behead him publicly. The Patriarch Peter and the Deacon Abisolom were martyred in 311.
Bishop Vlas of Sebastia always gave the lead to the Christians and encouraged the martyrs. During the period of persecutions of the king Likianos Bishop Vlas advised his flock to leave Sebastia, and went to live in the monasteries on the Mountain Areos, where he lived an ascetic and prayerful life. However, authorities became aware of the place of the saint and brought him to the court, where filled with the Lord’s Spirit, Bishop Vlas reproached the heathens. For his behavior he was subjected to torments, then he was thrown into the lake of Sebastia and afterwards was beheaded in 316.
The life, behavior and martyrdom of the Patriarch St. Peter, Bishop St. Vlas and Deacon Abisolom have been a model for the entire Christian world, at the price of whose blood the Christian Church was founded.
When is celebrated
19.07.2008
17.01.2009
16.01.2010
17.01.2011
16.01.2012
15.01.2013
16.01.2014
17.01.2015
16.01.2016
16.01.2017
16.01.2018
15.01.2019
16.01.2020
16.01.2021
17.01.2022
16.01.2023
16.01.2024
16.01.2025
17.01.2026
16.01.2027
17.01.2028
16.01.2029
15.01.2030
- This year is celebrated in::
2025-01-14
The birth of St. John the Baptist is described in details in the Gospel according to Like (Lk 1:5-25). One day Zechariah, father of St John the Baptist, was doing his work as a priest in the Temple and was burning incense on the altar. An angel of the Lord appeared to him and said that God had heard his prayer and his wife would bear him a son. Zechariah had to name him John. Zechariah didn’t believe the angel as he was and old man, and his wife was old, too. And because he hadn’t believed the angel he became unable to speak and remained silent until the birth of John.
St. John the Baptist, who should baptize the Savior, had been aware and rejoiced for the birth of Jesus even before his birth. According to the Evangelist, when St. Mary, Holy Mother of God, visited Elizabeth, mother of St John the Baptist, the latter, being filled with the Holy Spirit cried out, “Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord’s mother comes to visit me? For as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness” (Lk 1:43-44).
Continuation of the words of Elizabeth are the message of this feast addressed to all Christians throughout the world, “How happy you are to believe that the Lord’s message to you will come true!” (Lk 1:45).
When is celebrated
19.01.2008
15.01.2009
14.01.2010
15.01.2011
14.01.2012
14.01.2013
14.01.2014
15.01.2015
14.01.2016
14.01.2017
15.01.2018
14.01.2019
14.01.2020
14.01.2021
15.01.2022
14.01.2023
15.01.2024
14.01.2025
15.01.2026
14.01.2027
15.01.2028
15.01.2029
14.01.2030
- This year is celebrated in::
2025-01-13
Each year, on January 13, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Feast of Naming of Our Lord Jesus Christ. As Evangelist St. Luke writes in his Gospel, according to the Jewish tradition “On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.” (Lk 2:21). “Jesus” is a Hebrew word meaning “Savior”. According to the Gospel according to Luke when the angel Gabriel came to Mary to give her the good tidings of the birth of the Son of the Most High, he said that Mary would name the baby “Jesus”. “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” (Lk 1:31).
Parallel to the name “Jesus” the name “Christ” is given to the Savior, which is a Greek word meaning “Consecrated” and corresponding to the Hebrew word “Messiah”.
On the Feast of Naming of Our Lord Jesus Christ a Divine Liturgy is celebrated in all Armenian Churches. On the eve of the feast, following the evening service a special service is conducted.
When is celebrated
13.01.2008
13.01.2009
13.01.2010
13.01.2011
13.01.2012
13.01.2013
13.01.2014
13.01.2015
13.01.2016
13.01.2017
13.01.2018
13.01.2019
13.01.2020
13.01.2021
13.01.2022
13.01.2023
13.01.2024
13.01.2025
13.01.2026
13.01.2027
13.01.2028
13.01.2029
13.01.2030
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