On January 29, a Divine Liturgy was served on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Armenian Army at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin under the direction of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. The Liturgy was served by spiritual leader of the RA Armed Forces, Father, Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan. The ceremony was attended by diocesan prelates of the Armenian Church, cenobites of the Mother See, RA Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan, Head of the Main Headquarters of the RA Armed Forces Yuri Khachaturov, high-ranking army officers and guests. The condac of the Catholicos of All Armenians on the 20th anniversary of the Armenian Army was read during the Divine Liturgy. The Patriarchal Condac proclaimed the Holy Cross of King Ashot Yerkat II kept at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin as the guardian of the Armenian Army. On this occasion, the duplicate of the historical Holy Cross was prepared under the direction of the Supreme Patriarch with the holy relic of the Lord’s cross-stick in the center. The Divine Liturgy was followed by a blessing of the duplicate of the Armenian Army's guardian, the Holy Cross. The Holy Muron was raised to the Holy Table from the baptizing basin of the Mother Temple to the sounds of psalms, and the Catholicos of All Armenians anointed the four sides of the cross. After the ceremony, His Holiness wished that the cross helped the soldiers win their enemies and served as a shield for the soldiers and commanders of the Armenian Army so that they defend the borders of the Homeland and ensure the people’s safety and peace. Then, the Supreme Patriarch transmitted the newly anointed cross to the RA Ministry of Defense and the spiritual prelacy of the RA Armed Forces.

---