Eastern Diocese

Eastern Diocese The New York-based Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America serving 60+ parishes from the East Coast to The Rocky Mountains.

Today, our pilgrims continued their journey in the historic city of Van, a place many consider the heart of historic Arm...
09/06/2026

Today, our pilgrims continued their journey in the historic city of Van, a place many consider the heart of historic Armenia and the seat of its own Catholicosate.

For generations of Armenians, Van and the lands surrounding its great lake were home to thriving communities, churches, monasteries, schools, and centuries of cultural and spiritual life. To arrive here is to enter a landscape whose very names—Van, Varak, Akhtamar—resonate deeply in Armenian memory.

The day included a visit to the ancient Urartian fortress of Tushpa, overlooking the lake, followed by a visit to the 1,000-year-old ruins of Varagavank, just outside Van, where St. Hripsime hid a piece of the True Cross of Jesus Christ.

Tomorrow, the pilgrimage reaches its spiritual heart: Lake Van and the island of Akhtamar, where Bishop Mesrop and the pilgrims will visit the 10th-century Cathedral of the Holy Cross and gather for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

Today brought our pilgrims face to face with some of the most remarkable witnesses to Armenia’s medieval Christian herit...
09/05/2026

Today brought our pilgrims face to face with some of the most remarkable witnesses to Armenia’s medieval Christian heritage.

The pilgrims woke up bright and early to travel to Ani, the magnificent former capital of the Bagratuni Armenian kingdom. Once a thriving center of Armenian life, commerce, culture, and faith, Ani became renowned as the “City of 1,001 Churches.”

Walking through Ani today, among its cathedral, churches, city walls, and other surviving ruins, offers a glimpse into a remarkable chapter of Armenian history. These stones tell the story of a city where Armenian Christian faith and culture once flourished and produced an architectural legacy that continues to inspire centuries later.

The journey then continued along the slopes of Mount Ararat, a landscape that holds a special place in the heart and memory of the Armenian people, before the pilgrims arrived in Doğubayazıt.

The late afternoon included a visit to the impressive Ishak Pasha Palace and historic Bayazet Fortress before the group continued along the Araks River. Along the way, they stopped at the beautiful Berkri Waterfall and traveled through the rugged volcanic landscape near Tendürek Mountain.

By the late evening, the pilgrims arrived in Van, one of the great centers of ancient Armenian civilization and a place that occupies a profound place in Armenian history and memory.

For our pilgrims, Ani was more than an encounter with the past. It was an opportunity to walk where generations of Armenians once walked, to stand before the churches they built, and to experience firsthand a part of the heritage they have come to retrace.

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, joined by Fr. Armash Bagdasarian, Fr. Mardiros Chevian, and pilgrims from across the Eastern Di...
09/04/2026

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, joined by Fr. Armash Bagdasarian, Fr. Mardiros Chevian, and pilgrims from across the Eastern Diocese, have arrived in Istanbul to begin the Pilgrimage to Akhtamar: Retracing Our Armenian Roots.

Over the next several days, the group will make its way across historic Western Armenia, visiting places that have shaped the faith, history, and identity of the Armenian people for centuries—from Ani and Kars to Mush, Van and Akhtamar, and onward through Aintab, Cilicia, Musa Dagh, and Constantinople.

It will be a journey into the living memory of our people: walking through ancient Armenian cities, entering churches and monasteries where generations worshiped before us, and seeing firsthand the lands in which so much of our Christian heritage took root.

At the heart of the pilgrimage will be the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the 10th-century Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akhtamar Island.

The first day of the  pilgrimage took our pilgrims eastward from Istanbul to Erzurum—historic Karin—an important center of Armenian life and learning for centuries.

The group spent time exploring the city and visiting the Çifte Minare Medrese and Yakutiye Seminary, two landmarks reflecting the many layers of history and culture that have shaped this region.

From Karin, the pilgrims continued toward Kars, traveling through the landscapes of the historic Armenian homeland and drawing closer to some of the most significant Armenian Christian sites they will encounter on this journey.

That evening, they visited the medieval Armenian Church of the Holy Apostles in Kars.

As the journey continues eastward, so too begins the deeper purpose of this pilgrimage: to see these places firsthand, to remember the generations who lived and worshiped here, and to reconnect with the roots of a Christian heritage that remains very much alive today.

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, joined by Fr. Armash Bagdasarian, Fr. Mardiros Chevian, and pilgrims from across the Eastern Di...
09/03/2026

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, joined by Fr. Armash Bagdasarian, Fr. Mardiros Chevian, and pilgrims from across the Eastern Diocese, arrived in Istanbul today to begin the Pilgrimage to Akhtamar: Retracing Our Armenian Roots.

Over the next several days, the group will make its way across historic Western Armenia, visiting places that have shaped the faith, history, and identity of the Armenian people for centuries—from Ani and Kars to Mush, Van and Akhtamar, and onward through Aintab, Cilicia, Musa Dagh, and Constantinople.

It will be a journey into the living memory of our people: walking through ancient Armenian cities, entering churches and monasteries where generations worshiped before us, and seeing firsthand the lands in which so much of our Christian heritage took root.

At the heart of the pilgrimage will be the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the 10th-century Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akhtamar Island.
Following their arrival in Istanbul, the pilgrims gathered for an orientation and prepared for the journey ahead.

We invite you to follow their pilgrimage here in the days ahead and to keep Bishop Mesrop, Fr. Armash, Fr. Mardiros, and all the pilgrims in your prayers.

The final Badarak before St. Vartan Cathedral’s restoration marked not simply an ending, but the beginning of a new chap...
08/31/2026

The final Badarak before St. Vartan Cathedral’s restoration marked not simply an ending, but the beginning of a new chapter. In his sermon, Bishop Mesrop reflects on what it means to renew our sacred Cathedral while allowing Christ to renew our hearts.

Read Bishop Mesrop’s full sermon and reflection on this historic moment with the link:

https://armenianchurch.us/renewing-a-cathedral-and-ourselves/

08/30/2026

A shovel that will help shape the Cathedral for generations to come.

Today marked the final Badarak at St. Vartan Cathedral before the beginning of its historic renovation, with the Cathedral set to reopen in 2028.

Following Badarak, Bishop Mesrop presented the ceremonial shovel to the dedicated members of the renovation, building, and fundraising committees whose leadership, commitment, and vision have helped bring this transformative project to this moment.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude and special recognition to:

St. Vartan Cathedral Renovation Project
Richard Papalian
Haig Buchakjian
Nicholas Nazarian

Building Committee
Karl Anoushian
Kevin Lichten

Fundraising Committee
Oscar Tatosian
Nicholas Nazarian
Melanie Dadourian
Lori Onanian

To all our donors, this wouldn’t be possible without your generosity.

As one chapter in the life of St. Vartan Cathedral comes to a close, another begins. This renovation will preserve and renew our Cathedral so it may continue to serve as a spiritual home for generations to come.

The work begins. The legacy continues.

08/30/2026

On Sunday, August 30, worshippers will gather for one more Divine Liturgy in New York's St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, before it begins its comprehensive interior restoration. Celebrated by Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, this will be an unforgettable morning of prayer, thanksgiving, and hope, with the immortal sacred music of the Badarak rendered by the St. Vartan Cathedral Choir.

We will commend our beloved cathedral to the work of renewal that will prepare it for generations to come. The restoration project, already marked by the successful completion of its exterior phase, will transform the cathedral’s interior while preserving the beauty and dignity that have inspired worshippers since its consecration in 1968. St. Vartan Cathedral is projected to reopen in Spring 2028, in time to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

Join Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan and our faithful for the final Sunday Badarak at St. Vartan Cathedral before the Cathedral ...
08/29/2026

Join Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan and our faithful for the final Sunday Badarak at St. Vartan Cathedral before the Cathedral closes for its historic renovation.

Sunday, August 30 at 10:00 AM

We invite everyone to come together in prayer and fellowship as we give thanks for the countless memories made within these walls and look ahead with hope to this new chapter of renewal.

For those unable to attend in person, the Divine Liturgy will be livestreamed. Follow the link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Pcd4dySof/

08/26/2026

The 2026 Diocesan Summer Camp season has officially come to a close, but the memories, friendships, and faith shared this summer will last far beyond the final days of camp.

Take a look back at an unforgettable summer at St. Vartan Camp and Hye Camp, where hundreds of young people came together for a season filled with faith, friendship, and fun.

Watch our summer camp recap video and relive some of our favorite moments.

You can also explore our full collection of camp photos from Hye Camp and St. Vartan Camp Sessions A, B, and C at the links below:

Hye Camp: https://easterndiocese.smugmug.com/Diocesan-Summer-Camps/2026-Hye-Camp

St. Vartan Camp Session A: https://easterndiocese.smugmug.com/Diocesan-Summer-Camps/2026-St-Vartan-Camp-Session-A

St. Vartan Camp Session B: https://easterndiocese.smugmug.com/Diocesan-Summer-Camps/2026-St-Vartan-Camp-Session-B

St. Vartan Camp Session C: https://easterndiocese.smugmug.com/Diocesan-Summer-Camps/2026-St-Vartan-Camp-Session-C

Thank you to everyone who made the 2026 camp season one to remember. Until next summer!

Today, August 21, marks the 75th birthday of our Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin...
08/21/2026

Today, August 21, marks the 75th birthday of our Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II.

As pontiff of the worldwide Armenian Church for the past 27 years, he has preserved, restored, and built up our institutional structures. He has fed our people across the globe spiritually; and in times of trial has lifted up the consciousness of our national solidarity.

Catholicos Karekin II plays a unique role for Armenian Christians around the world: encouraging us in our achievements, consoling us in our sorrow, and uniting us in a higher purpose and aspiration. We congratulate our Catholicos today, and pray for him always.

May our Lord bless you, Vehapar Der. May He continue to strengthen your ministry, and grant you long years of health to lead our people through this critical time, and into a bright and peaceful future.

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