On July 20, at the invitation of the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Pontifical Legate for Western Europe and Representative of the Catholicos of All Armenians to the Vatican, took part in commemorative events dedicated to the memory of Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian. This year’s observances also coincided with the 70th anniversary of the Foundation’s...

From June 5 to June 7, the Armenian Church community in Belgium was blessed to hold its Armenian Camp at Hopper Jeugdverblijf Merkenveld, Zedelgem, Belgium. This joyful and grace-filled gathering brought together approximately 120 children, alongside 43 clergy, animators, teachers, and kitchen volunteers, for three days marked by prayer, learning, friendship, sports activities hand shared spiritual joy. The camp was...

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, arrived in Rome on Sunday morning, May 17, for a visit marked by fraternal encounters and ecumenical engagement at Vatican. Present at Fiumicino Airport to welcome His Holiness was His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Representative of the Catholicosate of All Armenians to the Vatican, together with officials of the Vatican and members of the Brotherhood...

On 12 May 2026, the Executive Committee of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches met at the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity in Rome to reflect on the future of their work and assess progress made over the past two decades. The meeting was co-chaired by His Eminence Cardinal Kurt Koch and His Grace Bishop Kyrillos. Also...

On May 9, at the Armenian Church of Saint Blaise in Rome, five female students from Armenia who are pursuing higher education in the Italian capital received the sacrament of Baptism. The ceremony was conducted with the blessing and by the hand of His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Pontifical Legate of Western Europe and Representative of the Catholicosate of All Armenians to the Vatican. In the months leading up to...

This past weekend, March 13–15, a three-day Lenten spiritual retreat was held for the youth of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Belgium, under the title “Holy Week with the Lord.” Around 50 Armenian young people from different parishes of Belgium took part in the retreat. United in prayer, reflection, and spiritual communion, they prepared themselves for the upcoming Feast of the Holy Resurrection. During these days,...

From 6 to 8 March, a three day Lenten retreat for the youth of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the Netherlands took place at a retreat center in Woudsend. The gathering brought together about sixty young Armenians from various parishes across the country for prayer, reflection, and fellowship in preparation for Easter. The retreat was presided over by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Pontifical Legate of the Armenian Church...

Each year from January 18 to 25, Christians around the world observe the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, a time dedicated to prayer, encounter, and hope for full communion among all who believe in Christ. This report explores the 2026 theme, drawn from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians: “There is one body and one Spirit.” Hear from Fr. Martin Browne of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, who explains why...

The University of Florence’s SAGAS Department welcomed distinguished scholars from around the world for the International Conference on Armenian and Georgian Women Patrons (IX-XIV centuries), held from November 24th to 25th. The conference, organized by Dr. Zaroui Pogossian, Associate Professor of Byzantine Civilization at the University of Florence and the Principal Investigator of a European Research Council (ERC)...

The visit began on Saturday, November 22, with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, held at a Catholic church in Valencia. The service was celebrated by Father Ghevond Saghatelyan, with Archbishop Barsamian presiding and delivering the sermon. In his homily, Archbishop Barsamian expressed his heartfelt joy at being with the Armenian community in Valencia, praying together as they entered the Advent season. After the...