Day of Pilgrim at Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral

This past weekend, the Armenian Apostolic Church commemorated its patron saint, St. Gregory the Illuminators’ Commitment to the Pit. This day coincides with the name day of the Holy See of Cilicia’s St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral.

In previous years, St. Gregory the Illuminator’s has been celebrated in grand fashion with many faithfuls staying overnight in the cathedral. The pontifical procession with the patron saints’ Holy Right has also attracted over thousands of faithfuls from across the world. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the day was not celebrated as large. Yet, despite that, thankfully, faithfuls were still able to receive the blessings of the day.

That said, on Sunday, March 21st, 2021, a special episcopal Divine Liturgy was celebrated in honour of the Mother Cathedral’s name-day which was presided by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian. The celebrant also delivered the sermon of the day reflecting on the biblical verse: “Remember your leaders…” - Hebrews 13:7.

In his sermon, Archbishop Sarkissian emphasized the life of St. Gregory, particularly the struggle and torture the saint had endured, and that in our lives, we should “remember” St. Gregory’s strong faith by “looking” at his mission, and to “follow” his light that continues to be a ray of hope in our difficult lives.

His Eminence continued by stating: “If we take into account the vast difficulties St. Gregory went through, in comparison to our difficulties and struggles, we will have the strength to overcome all of our ongoing tribulations.”

His Eminence ended his sermon saying: “At a time when the Armenian people faced unprecedented hardship and struggle, exactly ninety years ago, the late Catholicos Sahak II of the Great House of Cilicia revitalized the Armenian community by declaring St. Gregory the Illuminator’s Commitment to the Pit, the official Pilgrims Day of the Holy See. Today, in our current lives, when we face hardship yet again, let’s recall the unprecedented hardship and struggles our ancestors faced, and find triumph in our continued existence, removing ourselves from the pit of gloom that may have casted a shadow onto our lives.” …

This article was originally published on the Armenian Church Catholicosate of Cilicia, Antelias-lebanon, website. Please click here to read the full text.