Western Diocese

With the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the Christian Education Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, along with the Armenian Round Table Foundation and with the assistance of the organization "Church for the Church", jointly initiated a program entitled "Palm Sunday Celebrated by Children" on the feast day of Palm Sunday.

The program was implemented through the local Dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and with the cooperation of the local government agencies. Roughly 14,000 children from 350 kindergartens of Yerevan and the Armenian regions (Ararat, Armavir, Aragatsotn, Kotayk, Shirak, Gegharkouniq,Vayots Dzor, Lori) participated in the celebrations.

From 25-28 March, the children along with their parents and teachers visited their local parish where the Clergy introduced the children to the mystery of Palm Sunday. At each church, a blessing service was offered for the children.

Kindergartens received posters on information about Palm Sunday and the children were given prayer books.

The celebrations were continued in the Church courtyards and the kindergartens, where the children expressed their impressions and perceptions of Palm Sunday through chalk drawings. In some places the children also put on performances in honor of the occasion.