This weekend I went on a Youth Pilgrimage from Khor Virap to Etchmiadzin. It was a great experience, once in a lifetime opportunity! The buses left from S. Sarkis gathering all the local Armenians from various churches and headed towards Khor Virap. Once the bus neared our destination, the crowd walked the remaining distance, joining all the Diasporas from all over the world. There were over 25 buses packed with youths from all regions of Armenia, America, Argentina, Lebanon, all regions of France and of course myself from Australia. Once there, three were celebrations and presentations. Bishops from all around the world each read one of the 24 prayers from �I confess with faith�. A Youth was chosen to descend the pit where Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for 13 years to light a torch and pass on to the Bishops, then onto the Pilgrimage. We left Khor Virap by foot again and walked to a village nearby. At 3am we headed to S. Hripsime and had dinner there. At 5am we arrived in Etchmiadzin so we all had 1 hour to sleep until the morning mass started at 6am which was held outdoors. I then went exploring for the next couple of hours at churches nearby S. Astvazazin and S. Gayane. During the main mass that started at 10am, Deacons from the Pilgrimage were chosen to be part of the mass celebrations. From Etchmiadzin, a friend and myself headed back to Yerevan while the Pilgrimage continued onto Lake Sevan to spend the night. They will head back to Yerevan tomorrow ending up in the new church being built S. Krikor Lousavorich. All in all a great experience and great to see so many youths from all over.