Relic of St. John the Forerunner brought to Shoghakat Monastery

On June 19, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church celebrated the Feast of St. John the Forerunner (the Baptist) and St. Athenogenes the Bishop, which also marks the pilgrimage day of the Holy Shoghakat Monastery in Vagharshapat.

In the morning, the reliquary cross containing the relics of St. John the Baptist and Bishop Athanagine was solemnly borne in procession by the clergy from the Mother See to the Shoghakat Monastery, the Mother See reported.

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, led the procession up to the Arch of St. Gregory the Illuminator, bestowing blessings upon the faithful with the reliquary cross.

Thereafter, His Holiness entrusted the holy relics to the Rev. Fr. Anania Tsaturyan, Sacristan of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

Numerous pilgrims received the procession at the gates of the Shoghakat Monastery under the leadership of His Grace Bishop Artak Tigranyan, Supervisor of the Monasteries of the Mother See.

On the occasion of the feast, the Divine and Immortal Liturgy was celebrated in the monastery by the Rev. Fr. Aris Tonoyan, Abbot of the Shoghakat Monastery.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, in the monastery courtyard, Bishop Artak presided over the blessing of the faithful and the Andastan rite with the reliquary cross containing the relics of St. John the Baptist and Bishop Athanagine.