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Commemoration of the Apostles St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew, the first preachers of Christianity in Armenia

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Commemoration of the Apostles St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew, the first preachers of Christianity in Armenia

On Saturday 4 December 2021, the Armenian Church celebrates the Commemoration of the Apostles St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew.Apostles St. Thaddeus and St.

Bartholomew were two of the twelve Apostles of Christ, who came to Armenia and preached Christianity in Armenia deserving the title “the first illuminators”. Still at the dawn of Christianity they were martyred in Armenia.

It was the result of their preaching and martyrdom that the Armenian people, being the first nation in the world, proclaimed Christianity as the state religion. Indeed, Apostles St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew played an important role in the history of 2000-year-old Christian Armenian nation which has unshaken faith and keen love towards its Mother Church.

On November 28, 2014, according to the Encyclical of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, the feast of the founding apostles of the Armenian Church was proclaimed as the Day of Holy Lance (Սուրբ Գեղարդի ուխտի օր).

Each year a Divine Liturgy is celebrated in the Cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in the memory of St. Apostles. On this occasion, the Holy Keghart is removed from the Mother Cathedral Museum for the worship and blessing of the people.