On September 21, 2025 His Excellency Kevork Archbishop Noradounguian paid a pastoral visit to the Armenian Catholic community of Bavra in Ashotsk region and served a Holy Mass in St. Nshan church, during which two children also received first Holy Communion.

In the church yard His Excellency was warmly greeted by the local parish priest Fr. Hovsep Galstyan, by the believers and the young ladies in national garments with the traditional bread and salt. Management of the hostipal of Holy Mother of Narek – Rev. Fr. Mario Cucarollo, Hasmik Hambaryan, Fr. Akakiy, head of the community Karen Manukyan, head of administration of Bavra Pavlik Soumboulyan, deputy director of the local school Sayat Soumboulyan were also present at the ceremenony of the Holy Mass.

Celebration of the Independence Day of Armenia was accompanied by two more festive events: two children’s – Nshan Soumboulyan’s and Monika Margaryan’s first Holy Communion from His Excellency, and celebration of the first anniversary of bishop ordination of His Excellency.

In His homily His Excellency referred to these three important events, first of all congratulating on the occasion of the Independence Day of Armenia and wishing God’s blessings to our homeland on its way to the bright and more prosperous, peaceful and harmonious future.

Then His Excellency explained the words of Jesus Christ about the Bread of Life in the Gospel of John: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Man’s Son and drink His blood, you have no life in you”. As His Excellency emphasized, the adults also can have doubts on whether the flesh of Jesus can really be present in this small piece of bread. In order to realize this, one should go through a clearly defined path of preparation, which the parents of these children and the local parish priest with his assistants have considered their duty.

After the Holy Mass Fr. Hovsep Galstyan exressed his gratitude to His Excellency for His first pastoral visit to Bavra community and its blessing, for the Holy Mass and the first Holy Communion of the Flesh and  Blood of the Lord to these two children. He also congratulated His Excellency on the occasion of the first anniversary of His bishop ordination and wished Him good health and fruitful mission as the Ordinary.

Sayat Soumboulyan spoke on behalf of the community, also expressing gratitude to His Excellency for His pastoral visit, His paternal blessing and invited Him to pay more frequent pastoral visits to Bavra, where He can always find warm hospitality.

Marine Margaryan spoke on behalf on the young people of the community and told about their activities: “Your visit is a great joy for us and is a source of power… Let it sow new seeds which will bear fruit in the future for the glory of our Lord and for the welfare of our people”.

After the ceremony of the Holy Mass His Excellency was invited to the cultural center of the community, where He enjoyed the performance of the children’s dance group. Then His Excellency together with the children, who received the first Holy Communion, and with the young people of the community cut the festive cake and had a warm, friendly talk at the hospitality table.

Translated by Gohar Soghomonyan

Secretariat of the Ordinariate

September 22, 2025