On 7 April, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin very solemnly celebrated Annunciation Day which, under the high direction of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, has also been proclaimed as the Day of Blessing of Women Expecting the Joy of Motherhood. The celebrant of the day at the Mother Cathedral was Director of the Office of the Episcopal Assembly at the Mother See, Rev. Fr. Supreme Archimandrite Zakaria Baghumyan.

During the sacred ceremony, His Holiness properly delivered a sermon in which he touched upon the symbol of the day and highlighted the role of the Immaculate in the history of mankind. Supreme Archimandrite Zakara also congratulated the attending mothers, women and ladies, wishing them good health and happiness and asked the Lord for His piety.

“The Virgin Mary is the example of a rightful mother, a person who unconditionally obeys God and is aware of her mission. She not only gave birth to the Savior of the world, but also suffered and experienced pain to give her only child for the salvation of mankind. See, she never hesitated and maintained her faith, but showed with her infinite humbleness that the will of God is above everything else on Earth.

There is no doubt that if we also place the will of God above our will as people and various wishes, God will also turn us into an integral part of His mission, just like the Immaculate,” His Holiness Zakaria stated.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Blessing of Women Expecting the Joy of Motherhood was officiated by Director of the Christian Education Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Grace, Fr. Bishop Vardan Navasardyan.