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Yerevan, Mar. 4, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone left Rome on Tuesday morning, March 4, for a visit to Armenia.

The Vatican Secretary of State had originally planned to begin his trip on March 2, but he postponed the visit after Armenian President Robert Kocharian declared a state of emergency in the wake of violent protests in the capital city, Yerevan.

The protests were staged by opposition leaders who charge that the nation's February presidential election was rigged by Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian, who emerged with a decisive victory. On March 1, a confrontation between demonstrators and troops in Yerevan erupted into bloodshed, leaving 8 people dead and over 100 wounded. Rumors of an attempted coup flew around the Armenian capital on the eve of the originally scheduled for Cardinal Bertone's visit.

As the political situation stabilized, however, the Italian cardinal made the decision to go ahead with his visit to Armenia, foreshortening his scheduled itinerary. He will leave on Thursday, March 6, to travel to Azerbaijan, resuming his original travel schedule there.

This is the second time in less than a month that a trip by Cardinal Bertone takes place immediately after following a dramatic political development in the country he is visiting. In February the cardinal arrived in Cuba just after Fidel Castro announced that he would step down from power.

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04 December 2022

Joachim and Anna Rejoice

Today the bonds of childlessness are loosed, * for God has heard Joachim and Anna * and He promises manifestly that they, against all hope, would give birth to the Maiden of God * from whom the Uncircumscribed One Himself would be born, becoming man, * and he commanded the Angels to cry out to her: * “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!” (Troparion - Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Today the whole world celebrates * the conception of Anne which was brought about by God, * for she gave birth to the one who, beyond understanding, * gave birth to the Word. (Kontakion - Tone 4)

Saint Nicholas of Myra

The truth of your deeds has revealed you to your flock, * as a rule of faith, an image of meekness, and a teacher of abstinence. * Therefore, you attained the heights through humility, * and riches through poverty. * O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, * pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved. (Troparion, Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

In Myra, You were shown to be a servant of the sacred things, O Holy Nicholas, * for, fulfilling the Gospel of Christ, you, O Venerable, laid down your life for your people, * and saved the innocent from death. * Therefore, you were sanctified as a great initiate of the grace of God. (Kontakion, Tone 3)