The Gandzasar daily program introduces spiritual readings according to the annual calendar of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It consists of three parts: Bible reading, readings from Church Fathers’ writings and brief bives of saints. The first section consists of the readings from the Armenian Church Lectionary for that particular day. The second section includes readings from the Church Fathers’ writings appropriate to the Bible’s message of that day. The third section presents the lives of the saints which are venerated on that day. As a result of this project, we have a full annual cycle of readings according to the Church calendar.

Sunday Prior to Great Lent: Great Barekendan
Isa. 58:1-14, Rom. 13:11-14:27, Lk. 2:41-52, Mt. 6:1-21
St. Gregory of Tathev, Homily on Great Barekendan



150 Fathers of the Holy Council of Constantinople (AD 381)
Ezek. 3:16-19, 2 Cor. 6:1-14, Mt. 12:22-32
Oecumenical Councils (Encyclopedia Article)
Church Fathers on the Divinity of the Holy Spirit and on the Holy Trinity



Fast Day
Tit. 3:1-15, Jn. 8:21-30
St. Gregory the Illuminator, Stromata (Hachaxapatum), An Excerpt from Homily II
St. Nerses the Grace-filled, An Excerpt from the Encyclical Letter



St. Vardan the Warrior and His 1036 Companions
Wis.3:1-8, Heb. 12:1-7, Isa. 49:8-9, Lk. 6:20-26
St. Gregory of Tathev, Homily on Wisdom, Light and Work (on the occasion of the feast of St. Vardan and his companions)



Fast Day
Tit. 1:12-2:10, Jn. 8:12-20
St. Ephrem the Syrian, Jesus the Light of the World
St. Gregory the Illuminator, Stromata (Hachakhapatum), Excerpt from Homily III



St. Leontius the Priest and His Companions
Wis. 5:16-23, Isa. 35:1-2, 1 Pet. 1:3-9, Lk. 12:4-10
St. Gregory of Tathev, Homily on Wisdom on the occasion of the Feast of Holy Leontians and Atomians



Saints Mark the Bishop, Pionius the Priest, Cyril and Benjamin the Deacons, and Martyrs Abdelmseh, Ormistan and Sayen
Zakh. 8:1-3, Rom. 8:28-39, Jn. 15:17-21
St. Gregory of Tathev, Homily on Martyrs



Fifth Sunday after Nativity
Isa. 63:18-64:12, Tit. 1:1-11, Jn. 7:37-52
Vardan of Aygek, Exhortation to All Priests and People



Catholicos St. Sahak Parthev
Wis. 7:12-18, Isa. 61:4-7, Heb. 13:17-21, Jn. 10:11-16
St. John Chrysostom, From the Commentary on the Gospel According to John



Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ to the Temple
Isa. 24:21-25:8, Acts 7:47-50, Gal. 4:1-7, Lk. 2:41-52
St. Basil of Caesarea, Oration on the Occasion of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord to the Temple



The Holy Օskian Priests
Prov. 24:1-12, Jer. 30:18-22, 2 Tim. 3:10-12, Mt. 5:1-12
St. Gregory of Tathev, Homily on Martyrs



Fast Day
2 Tim. 3:16-4:8, Jn. 7:1-13
St. Nerses the Grace-filled, An Excerpt from the Encyclical Letter



The Holy Soukiassian Martyrs
Prov. 22:1-12, Isa. 56:6-7, Heb. 11:32-40, Lk. 12:4-8
St. Gregory the Theologian, On Martyrs and Against Arians



Saints Atom and his soldiers
Wis. 6:12-21, Isa. 18:7-19:7, 2 Cor. 4:10-5:5, Jn. 16:1-5
St. Gregory of Tathev, Homily on Martyrs



Forth Sunday after Nativity
Isa. 63:7-18, 2 Tim. 3:1-12, Jn. 6:22-38
St. Gregory the Illuminator, Stromata (Hachakhapatum), Homily I



St. Sargis the Warrior and his son Martiros and his fourteen soldiers
Prov. 3:13-17, Isa. 41:1-13, Eph. 6:10-17, Lk. 21:10-19
St. Gregory of Tathev, Homily on Martyrs and St. Sargis



Fifth Day of the Fast of the Catechumens
Commemoration of the Prophet Jonah
Jonah 1:1-4:11
Vardan of Aygek, Exhortation on Fasting



Fourth Day of the Fast of the Catechumens
St. Gregory of Tathev, On Confession



Third Day of the Fast of the Catechumens
St. John Mandakuni, Homily on the Strength of the Fast



Second Day of the Fast of the Catechumens
St. Gregory the Illuminator, From the "Perfect Teaching on Fasting"



First Day of the Fast of the Catechumens
St. Gregory the Illuminator, From the Homily on Confession and Repentance



Third Sunday after Nativity
Isa. 62:1-11, 2 Tim. 2:15-19, Jn. 6:39-47
Mkhitar of Sasoun, On the Resurrection of Jesus Christ



St. Gregory the Theologian
Prov. 8:33-36, Hos. 10:12, Am. 5:10-14, Jn. 10:11-16
St. Gregory the Theologian, Speeches



Fast Day
2 Tim. 3:1-7, Jn. 6:64-72
The Gandzasar Prayer Book, The Church Fathers and Teachers on
Prayer (from St. Gregory the Illuminator to St. Eznik Vardapet)

