“Tree of Life” Pilgrimage to Tatev Monastery

Approximately 2,000 pilgrims from Armenia and abroad took part today in a pilgrimage to Tatev Monastery. A joint prayer service was held at the Church of Saints Paul and Peter in the Tatev monastic complex, presided over by Archbishop Makar Hakobyan, Primate of the Diocese of Syunik.

“Public sentiments serve as indicators for measuring legal and political processes,” believes Siranush Sahakyan, co-founder of the “Legal Path” public organization and human rights defender.

“Public awareness of these processes—or even simple, heartfelt compassion expressed in the public sphere holds great significance and can have a multiplying effect on key international stakeholders and decision-making political figures.”

Tatev also hosted the baptism ceremony of seven children from Artsakh. One of the children’s parents, Lusine, came to Tatev Monastery with an important vow.

“When we were displaced from Stepanakert, I didn’t yet know that I was carrying a little heart under my breast—God’s blessing. Overcoming difficulties, we reached Goris. A few days later, we learned that God had blessed us. Although life has taken so much from me, it felt as if God had blessed me anew, and in June I became a mother. True, every day has been sunny since our displacement from Stepanakert, but today the sun is smiling at us differently,” said Lusine.

Honored Artist of Armenia, actor Shant Hovhannisyan, has taken on the important responsibility of being godfather to twin brothers Spartak and Sargis from Artsakh, with hope that his godsons will surely return to their ancestral land.

“God willing, in their mature, conscious lives they will have the homeland they dream of,” said Shant Hovhannisyan.

The Tatev community welcomed guests with Armenian harissa, demonstrations of traditional crafts, and national music.

At the Oil Press Museum, pilgrimage participants became acquainted with the history of Tatev Monastery through the exhibition “The Golden Chain of Patrons: Guardians of Tatev Through the Centuries.” Based on medieval manuscripts, memorial inscriptions, epigraphic records, and contemporary scholarly research, this exhibition reveals who built, preserved, and rebuilt the Tatev monastic complex from the 9th century onward.

“Tatev Monastery has repeatedly suffered destruction due to enemy raids and natural disasters. But individuals have always been found who restored it again, breathing life and spirit back into the monastery and making it a vital pillar of our spiritual identity and resilience. By discovering how our ancestors overcame the trials of time, we too learn to face contemporary challenges,” said Narine Aghabalyan, project coordinator of the exhibition.

The “Tree of Life” pilgrimage was initiated by the “We Are Our Mountains” Development Agency, founded by Ruben Vardanyan. This marks the second year it has been held.

“Tatev’s renaissance is closely connected with the name of our organization’s founder, Ruben Vardanyan. Bringing his vision to life, we have undertaken to restore the tradition of Tatev pilgrimage as well,” said agency director Grigor Martirosyan.

The pilgrimage, implemented with the blessing of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the initiative of the We Are Our Mountains Development Agency, was supported by the Tatev community and more than a dozen reputable Armenian charitable organizations and foundations, including the Aznavour Foundation, Teach for Armenia Educational Foundation, DAR Foundation, Tufenkian Foundation, IDeA Foundation, Armenian Relief Society, Armenian General Benevolent Union, H. Hovnanyan Family Foundation, Near East Foundation Armenia Branch, Satar Artsakhin Union, and Orran Charitable NGO.