After many years of translation work, the official Handbook of the Legion of Mary apostolic movement has finally been published, with the authorization of the Ordinary of the Armenian Catholic Church for Armenia, Georgia, Russia, and Eastern Europe, His Excellency Archbishop Gevorg Noratunkyan. The author of the official Handbook is the Servant of God Frank Duff, the founder of the worldwide lay movement of the Legion of Mary. Now available in Armenian, this Handbook is not only a carefully crafted working guide and practical textbook, polished and updated through 105 years of global missionary experience, but also a unique theological work. It covers Mariology, deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the spirit and deeds of St. Louis-Marie de Montfort, journeying towards Christ under Mary’s guidance, attaining holiness, and the mission of the laity to proclaim the Gospel—all grounded in Holy Scripture, the writings of the Church Fathers, and the doctrinal documents of the Catholic Church. In this sense, the Handbook is a masterpiece of the practical application of pastoral theology and Mariology, well worth reading not only for members of the Legion of Mary but for any believer. The Handbook was translated through the voluntary efforts of legionaries and printed using donations from the legionaries active in Armenia.

As a reminder, the Legion of Mary in Armenia has seven active apostolic groups (praesidia) operating in the communities of Ashotsk, Spitak, and Yerevan, under a single unifying council called the “Caucasus ‘Mother of Wisdom’ Curia.” The Spiritual Director is Fr. Hovsep Galstyan, and the President is Mr. Kim Vahanyan. The mission of the Legion of Mary is to develop the apostolic activity of the laity in communities through various spiritual undertakings: to help the priest bring people closer to the Holy Sacraments of the Church by working with them individually, explaining Christian doctrine, teaching them to pray, and guiding them toward Confession and Holy Communion; to pray for the sick, comfort the grieving, the elderly, and the lonely; to accompany families in their spiritual life, and to carry out other various missions according to local needs. The Legion strictly excludes material assistance.

The PDF of the newly published Handbook can be found here:  Մարիամի Լեգեոնի ձեռնարկը

Fr. Hovsep Galstyan
July 4, 2026