Feast of Exaltation of Holy Cross celebrated in Staryi Krym

Archimandrite Taron Gulikyan celebrated the holy liturgy on September 15 at Surb Khach Monastery in Staryi Krym (Old Crimea) to mark Khachverats, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

He was assisted by Nerses Khananyan, Priest of Surb Hakob Church in Simferopol, and Manase Nadanyan, Priest of Surb Hripsime Church in Yalta.

At the end of the service in the courtyard of the monastery, the clergy performed the Andastan ceremony, the blessing of the four corners of the world, and distributed basil leaves to the pilgrims.

The Crimean Armenian Youth Congress, with the support of Deputy State Committee Haykuhi Harutyunyan, organized an intellectual quest game, and the dance ensemble held a master class on traditional Armenian dances for the pilgrims. According to the established tradition, a pilgrimage to the ruins of Surb Stepanos Church was also organized for the pilgrims.