Western Diocese

Under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, members of the Khachadourian Choir of the Mother Cathedral along with their family members marked the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of the choir and celebrated the Holy Easter celebrations according to the Julian calendar in the Holy Land. The Patriarchate of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, welcomed and received the pilgrims during their stay in Jerusalem.

Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian representing His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian joined the Pilgrimage to Holy Land in Jerusalem.

The choir members and their families took a flight to Constantinople and then, with the Grace of God, on April 20, 2008, they arrived in Tel Aviv. A two-day stay in Nazareth was followed by the second leg of the pilgrimage which included visitation to Jerusalem and participation in the Holy Week and Easter church services, from April 23^rd to 27^th, according to the Julian calendar. The Pilgrims visited many Holy Places during their memorable pilgrimage to the Holy Land, namely, a visit to Cana Where the Lord performed the First Miracle – turning water into wine, See of Galilee, Mount Beatitudes, Tabgha – the site of multiplication of fish and loaves, the Church of Transfiguration, Jordan River, Western Wall, The Dome of the Rock, St. Anne Church, the Church of Flagellation (Ecco Homo), the Church of Holy Sepulcher, Mount of Olive, Pater Noster, Dominus Flevit, Gethsemane, St. James Convent, Holy Mass of Easter at Holy Sepulcher, Armenian Patriarchate, Mount Zion.