Armenian Orthodox Church Converted into Mosque in Turkey

Calls have been renewed for the protection of Armenian monuments, churches, and cultural artifacts in western Armenia (currently part of eastern Turkey), one of which in recent years was converted into a mosque. More here.

175th Anniversary of Singapore Parish

The Armenian Orthodox Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Singapore is preparing to celebrate its 175th anniversary. The church is the second oldest in Singapore and is currently shared by communities of the Coptic Orthodox and Malankara Syriac Orthodox Churches as the last Armenian Orthodox priest to serve the church left in the 1930s. More here.

Theophany Celebrations in Echmiadzin

Some beautiful pictures from the new style celebration of the Lord's Nativity and Theophany yesterday at the seat of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Holy Echmiadzin can be found here. (The Armenian Rite is the only rite in the Orthodox Church to have preserved the older custom of celebrating the Lord's Nativity and Theophany together on the same day.)

Pictured is Catholicos-Patriarch Karekin II (Nersessian) of Echmiadzin blessing the waters after yesterday's festal Divine Liturgy.

Fasting Randomness

I love that the article I was just reading on fasting in the Armenian Orthodox Church cited St. Theodore the Studite and the third Council of Constantinople as authorities on the matter :-). Too funny...

New Hierarch of the Armenian Orthodox Church!

This is a bit dated, but many years to Bishop-elect Datev of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Romania! Axios! The full press release from the Patriarchate of Echmiadzin with Bishop-elect Datev's biography can be found here.