January 13-14, 2024, Under the auspices of Bishop Oshagan Gulgulian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Iraq, and under the supervision of the Regina Garabed Eskandarian Endowment Committee, the Church of Saint Garabed in Baghdad recently underwent major renovations. These renovations included painting the church inside and out, restoring the facade of the church altar and the floor of the baptism room, and replacing the baptismal font. New church icons were also prepared by the artist Antranig Hovhannesian. Over the course of the weekend, religious celebrations were held under the auspices of the Primate, His Eminence Bishop Oshagan Gulgulian, with the participation of the former Primate Archbishop Avak Asadourian, including the consecration ceremonies of two church icons. On the second day, the occasion of the birthday of St. John the Baptist, the front of the church altar was rededicated. Immediately following, the baptismal font was filled with water, with the participation of the former primate Archbishop Avak Asadourian, and the Divine Liturgy was held. After the Liturgy, the harissa meal was blessed and distributed among the faithful, and His Eminence, Bishop Gulgulian blessed those bearing the name Garabed. Partipants in the Liturgy included the pastors of the churches of Baghdad, Zakho, Dohuk, and Erbil, deacons, the Zvartnos Choir, the Consul and Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Iraq, members of the Central Administrative Committee, members of the Regina Endowment Committee, and a group of believers.
