On March 21, 2015 the feast of the first Catholicos St. Gregory the Illuminator was celebrated in memory of his torments in Khor Virap. The Divine Liturgy therefore was delivered by the Primate of the Armenian Diocese, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan in Tbilisi St. Etchmiadzin Church. At the feat the curtain of the church was opened, and the parish had a chance to take Holy Communion.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Grace explained the sacrament of the day during his sermon. He referred to the torments of St. Gregory the Illuminator for Christian faith, his imprisonment in Khor Virap for 13 years, his will and dedication to God and Christianity. His Grace highlighted the struggle of Armenian people for their future. It was the desire to live and struggle for life that helped Armenian people to survive the Genocide, to rise again and to introduce themselves to the world as a promising nation with five thousand years-old culture and Christian values.

“After the imprisonment in Khor Virap St. Gregory the Illuminator dedicated his life to spreading the light of Christ in the Armenian world and became the first official head of the Armenian Apostolic Church”, concluded the Primate.

The feast of St. Gregory the Illuminator was celebrated on all the churches of the Diocese.