YEREVAN - A few hours before the advent of the New Year, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, descended into Khor Virab, the grotto where St. Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned, to light a lantern from an altar there.

The Catholicos them shared the light of the lantern with other clergymen and churches in Armenia. He took the lantern in colorful procession to the Mother See of Etchmiadzin, where waiting was President Robert Kocharian, along with members of his government. Yerevan was decorated in a fitting manner (photos at right).

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, was a participant in this inaugural celebration, along with two American-Armenian youths. The Primate carried a lantern, which was lit from the lantern brought out of Khor Virab, to the United States where he was due to return this Thursday.

This Saturday, Armenian Christmas, at special services at St. Vartan Cathedral, representatives of various parishes in the Easter Diocese will light their own lanterns from the one brought from Armenia, which they will then take to their own parishes.

The lighting of lanterns will be symbolic of the advent of Christianity in Armenia and will mark the beginning of a yearlong celebration throughout the Armenian world.

Photos here show Yerevan in holiday mood and President Robert Kocharian joining the procession in Etchmiadzin.