On November 22, 2025, His Excellency Kevork Archbishop Noradounguian paid his first pastoral visit to the Armenian Catholic community of Ghazanchi and celebrated the Holy Mass, during which five children received their First Holy Communion—the Body and Blood of the Lord—for the first time. Fr. Mario Cucarollo, Director of the Our Lady of Narek Hospital in Ashotsk, and Deputy Director Hasmik Hambaryan were also present at the ceremony.

The five children had been prepared beforehand by the volunteer catechists Anahit Petrosyan and Christine Sargsyan, who had trained online as a part of the Evangelization Program and began conducting regular religion classes in the village in 2024. They are also zealous members of the Legion of Mary apostolic movement. In his sermon the Archbishop first spoke about First Holy Communion:

“Receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus for the first time is one of the most important events in a person’s life; it is a historic day because it remains with you for a lifetime… Keep today’s photos before your eyes to remember that on this day, Jesus entered your heart for the first time, and you renounced Satan and sin.”

The Archbishop spoke about the spiritual Bread—the Bread of Life—which became Flesh, became nourishment for us, and is offered to us in the Holy Mass. He then spoke about the spiritual awakening of Ghazanchi community, which was marked by the construction and solemn consecration of the new St. Joseph Church in September 2022:

“Ghazanchi community is a fertile spiritual womb that continues to pass on the faith to the younger generation. Behold, these children are baptized, these other children are receiving their First Holy Communion, and I see young people in the choir and serving at the Altar. I also see adults; this is proof of a healthy spiritual community—if any one of these elements were missing, the community would be ill… Do not underestimate the smallness of your village; strive to hold the honor of your village high, have great aspirations, great dreams, and reach the heights.”

At the end, the five children received the children’s Bible and a booklet about Holy Communion by St. Josemaría Escrivá as gifts.

After the Holy Mass, the parish priest, Fr. Hovsep Galstyan, thanked the Archbishop on behalf of the community for taking time out of his busy schedule to make this pastoral visit and for sharing the joy of the First Holy Communion.

A celebratory cake-cutting also took place at Ghazanchi parish center in an atmosphere of warm conversation and hospitality.

Chancellery of the Armenian Catholic Ordinariate

November 22, 2025