Etchmiadzin opens new tomb and candlelight chapel
A new tomb and prayer chapel have opened in Holy Etchmiadzin, fulfilling a decades-old vision and serving as a sanctuary for worship and remembrance.
On July 27, the Feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, a ceremonial opening was held for the Catholicosal Tomb and the Candlelight Prayer Chapel at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, presided over by Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.
“This structure is not merely made of stone—it is a house of prayer, a place of refuge for the faithful,” the Catholicos emphasized.
The project was realized through the support of national benefactors, the late Garnik Yakubyan and Mrs. Anahit Chatalbashyan-Yakubyan. Architectural work was done by Aslan Mkhitaryan and Hayk Mkrtchyan, with construction carried out by Horizon 95 LLC.
The ceremony was attended by diocesan leaders from Armenia and the Diaspora, bishops and monks serving in the Mother See, benefactor Mrs. Anahit Chatalbashyan-Yakubyan, members of the Yakubyan family, and pilgrims from both Armenia and abroad.
The opening began with a solemn procession led by the Catholicos. Among those accompanying him were Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan of the Canadian Diocese and Bishop Mushegh Babayan, Director of the Administrative Department of the Mother See.
During the ceremony, accompanied by hymns and psalms, the Holy Altars of the two chapel sections were washed with water and wine. Following prayers, the Catholicos anointed the altars with Holy Muron (chrism), dedicating the chapels to Saints Thaddeus and Bartholomew. Relics of the apostles were also placed in the chapels.
The event concluded with a memorial service in honor of the late Garnik Yakubyan and deceased members of the Yakubyan and Chatalbashyan families. Catholicos Karekin II delivered a heartfelt message.
He recalled that the idea of building a pantheon for the resting place of Catholicoi dates back to 1955 during the tenure of Catholicos Vazgen I. “We, too, envisioned establishing a Catholicosal Tomb at Holy Etchmiadzin—without prior knowledge of this initiative—and now it has been magnificently realized, serving our faithful also as a candlelight prayer chapel.”
“We glorify Almighty God for making this endeavor possible through the patronage of the great benefactor Mr. Garnik Yakubyan and his noble wife, Mrs. Anahit. The tomb will serve as the final resting place for the deceased leaders of our Holy Church, whose lives were fully dedicated to God, the nation, and the homeland. This site will serve as a lasting reminder of their spiritual mission that enriched the national and ecclesiastical life of our people.”
He added that in today’s world, where false ideologies distort moral values and spiritual perception, such sacred sites play an essential role in strengthening faith, guiding souls, and promoting godly living.
“This is truly not just a stone-built structure—it is a house of prayer, a sanctuary for the faithful, home to the chapels of Saints Thaddeus and Bartholomew, where worship services will be held and prayers lifted to the Lord. In such a blessed place, the faithful encounter the eternal within time, the divine within the earthly, as soul-born prayers ascend to heaven and divine grace descends upon the hearts of those who trust in the Savior.”
After the ceremony, attendees participated in the Holy and Immortal Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral, dedicated to the Feast of the Transfiguration.
