Pope Clement I (called Clemens Romanus to distinguish him from the Alexandrian), is the first of the successors of St Peter of whom anything definite is known, and he is the first of the "Apostolic Fathers". The Apostolic Fathers were a group of early Christian leaders who were believed to know the Apostles personally.... Read More »

  The first preachers of Christianity in Armenia Saints Thaddeus and Bartholomew were two of the original disciples of Jesus Christ. When they came to the land of our ancestors to spread the Good News of Christ’s Resurrection, they were not just offering an abstract philosophy. They told about their own first hand experience of... Read More »

  Commemoration of St Abgar, First Martyr of the Church and our first King believing in Christ According to Armenian tradition, St Abgar was the first Christian king of the 1st century, the son of the Parthian king Arshakunie Arsham. He was also called “senior man” as he was the wisest of all and a... Read More »

The Desert Fathers were early Christian hermits, ascetics and monks who lived mainly in the Scetes desert of Egypt beginning around the third century AD.  The most well known was Anthony the Great, who moved to the desert in AD 270–271 and became known as both the father and founder of desert monasticism. Sometime around AD 270, Anthony... Read More »

  St. Mary is known in the Armenian Church as Asdvadzamayr-Asdvadzadzin, the “Mother of God” and the “Bearer of God” a position doctrinally established at the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus in the 5th century. Her life of holiness and purity, and her graceful acceptance of the role to which God called her, as the mother... Read More »

  Today commemorates the eve (paregentan) of the Fast of St. James (Hagop) of Nisibus. The five day fast, Monday to Friday, leads us to the Feast of St. James, which is next Saturday. Traditionally the entire fifty day period of Advent was a period of fasting, similar to Great Lent. In modern times, three... Read More »

  Pontiff St. James (Soorp Hagop) of Nisibis is one of the authoritative and beloved saints of the Universal Church. He has deserved the epithet “Thaumaturge” (Wonderworker) for the numerous miracles relating to his name. According to hagiographical sources St. James was from a Parthian dynasty and the nephew of St. Gregory the Illuminator. When... Read More »

  Commemoration of the Prophet St David and Apostle St James, brother of Jesus The Prophet St David was the great grandson of Boaz and Ruth. The Holy Bible depicts him as a psalmist, gifted, wise, handsome man and orator. He was a shepherd. During the battle against Philistines he killed the giant Goliath. After... Read More »

  Commemoration of St Stephen the Protomartyr and the first Martyr St Stephen is one of the most beloved saints of the Universal Church, the first person martyred for the sake of Christ’s doctrine of love. According to the hagiographical sources he was from the royal dynasty of Judas and was the son of law... Read More »

  St. Peter was one of the 12 apostles of Christ. He was the brother of Andrew. He was one of the beloved apostles of Jesus and the witness of Our Lord’s Transfiguration and the other important events related to Jesus. Peter was a fisherman. His name given during the circumcision was Shmavon, or Simon... Read More »

  St James was the son of the fisherman Zebedee, the senior brother of the Evangelist St John. He was one of the closest and most reliable disciples of Jesus and the witness of the important events related to Jesus. When Samaritans refused to receive Christ, James and his brother asked Jesus to send fire... Read More »

  Eve of the Fast of Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Fast of Christmas) The Eve of the Fast of Christmas is always celebrated on December 29, that is seven (7) days before the Feast of Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Christmas). The Fast of Christmas ends... Read More »