On September 23, with the blessing of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, Primate of the Diocese of Russia and New Nakhichevan, His Grace, Fr. Archbishop Yezras Nersisyan left for the Bulgarian city of Yambol to officiate the consecration and opening ceremony of the newly built Armenian church in Yambol.

As reported the press divan of the Armenian Diocese of Russia and New Nakhichevan, on September 24, during the Holy Mass, the 16 pillars of the church and the Holy Basin for Baptisms were consecrated. The groundbreaking ceremony of the church was held in 2008 by the late Primate, Fr. Archbishop Tirayr Martikyan. The two architects of the church built according to the traditions of construction of Armenian churches are Zhirayr and Alvard Patvakan.

The prayer house can accommodate up to 100 people and was built with a donation from Sonya Arshavir.

Among the attendees of the solemn ceremony of consecration of the church were Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Romania, His Grace, Fr. Bishop Tatev Hakobyan; representatives of the municipal authorities; Deputies; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Bulgaria Armen Sargsyan; members of the local Armenian community and guests from other cities across Bulgaria.

In his sermon, Archimandrite Isahak Poghosyan stated that any Armenian church built in any corner of the globe is built with faith in God, with love for the Holy Etchmiadzin and with the deep conviction that the spiritual life of a Christian Armenian and the guarantee for the eternity and salvation of the Armenian nation are at risk without the Armenian Church. “This newly built church serves as evidence of your faith, and today we are gathered in this blessed church,” His Holiness said.

Benefactor Sonya Arshavir was awarded with the high Saint Nerses Shnorhali Order of Honor for her contribution to the construction of the church.

Father Isahak also expressed his appreciation to the Bulgarian government, the leadership of Yambol and the Bulgarian population of Yambol for the cordiality they have shown to the Armenian community.

After the consecration and solemn opening ceremony, Archbishop Yezras Nersisyan conveyed the congratulatory remarks and patriarchal blessing of the Catholicos of All Armenians to the attendees. In his speech, His Holiness stated that the 24^th of September is a celebration of faith, love and devotion for the Armenians of the city of Yambol. “In spite of all the hardships and tribulations that the Armenians have faced and undergone, the Armenians have always been loyal to the Holy Etchmiadzin, which was established with the descent of the Begotten Son of God and by which the native land and our pious nation were blessed,” His Holiness said and called on everyone to stay true to the Lord’s Commandments and say many prayers for world peace, the friendship of nations, the advancement of Armenia and Bulgaria and the glory of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the House of God.

The solemn ceremony ended with a lunch of love.