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.

Fast Day
2 Thess. 3:1-18, Lk. 15:1-7
St. Gregory of Tathev, Homily on Contrition



Fast: Saints Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugenius, Orestes and Mardarius
Prov. 1:1-9, Nahum 2:1-7, Rom. 5:1-5, Mt. 5:1-12
The Gandzasar Prayer Book, The Nine Beatitudes



Fast
2 Thess. 2:1-16, Lk. 14:25-27
Isaac the Syrian, On the Renunciation of the World and on Monastic Life



Fast: Saints Cornelius the Centurion, Simeon the Relative of Christ, Polycarp the Bishop of Smyrna and the Martyrs that perished in the East
Wis. 1:1-7, Jer. 16:16-21, Acts 1:12-14, Mk. 6:6-13
St. Polycarp of Smyrna, Epistle to the Philippians



Feast of the Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary
Song. 6:3-8, Mal. 3:1-2, Gal. 3:24-29, Lk. 1:39-56
Peter of Siunik, Praise to the Holy Mother of God



Third Sunday of Advent: Barekendan of the Fast of Saint James
Isa. 37:14-38, 2 Thess. 1:1-12, Lk. 14:12-24
The Way to the Practical Knowledge of God according to the Church Fathers



St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
Iez. 10:16-19, 2 Tim 3:10-15 Jn. 10:11-16
St. John Chrysostom, From the Commentary on the Gospel according to John



Fast
1 Thess. 5:12-28, Lk. 14:1-11
The Gandzasar Prayer Book, The Church Fathers and Teachers on Prayer
(from St. Gregory the Illuminator to St. Eznik Vardapet)



The Holy Fathers of Egypt Paul, Paul the Simple, Macarius of Alexandria, Evagrius, John, John the Dwarf, Nilus, Arsenius, Sisoes, Daniel, Serapion, Macarius the Great, Poemen, and other Holy Fathers
Prov. 21:15-25, Isa. 19:19-21, Heb. 11:32-40, Mt. 10:37-42
Sayings of the Egyptian Fathers



Fast
1 Thess. 5:1-11, Lk. 13:10-17
Mkhitar of Sasoun, On the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ



Fast: Saints Menas, Hermogenes, Eugraphius, John the Cave Dweller and Alexios the Man of God
Prov. 15:33-16:7, Isa. 18:7, Phil. 1:27-2:4, Mt. 10:37-42
St. Gregory of Tathev, Homily on Repentance



Saints Gennaro the Bishop and Mercurius the Warrior, James the Persian and Themistocles the Martyr
Isa. 35:4-8, 2 Cor. 3:18-4:6, Lk. 21։12-19
St. Gregory of Tathev, Homily on Death



Second Sunday of Advent
Isa. 36:22-37:11, 1 Thess. 4:1-11, Lk. 13:1-9
St. Gregory the Illuminator, Reproof of the Evil Life and Demonstration of Acts of Virtue



Our first enlighteners, holy apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew
Wis. 9:13-10:2, Jer. 16:16-19, 1 Cor. 12:26-13:10, Mt. 9:35-10:7
St. Gregory of Tathev, Homily dedicated to Apostle Bartholomew



Fast Day
1 Thess. 2:17-19, Lk. 12:49-59
St. Basil of Caesarea, Take Heed to Yourself



Saints Clement of Rome and Pancras the Bishop of Taormina
Prov. 8:33-36, Isa. 66:18-21, Phil. 4:1-7, Lk. 9:1-6
St. Clement of Rome, From the I Epistle to the Corinthians



Fast
1 Thess. 2:1-12, Lk. 12:41-48
St. John Mandakuni, On the Superintendence of Priests



Sts. Lucian the Priest, Tarachus, Probus and Andronicus, Onesimus and other disciples of Paul
Wis. 9:9-12, Isa. 41:15-19, 2 Cor. 2:14-17, Lk. 6:13-20
St. Gregory of Tathev, Homily on Teachers and Instruction



Holy virgins Juliana and Vasilissa
Song. 8:14, Hos. 14:6-8, 2 Cor. 6:16-7:1, Lk. 8:1-3
St. Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans



First Sunday of Advent
Isa. 36:1-9, 1 Thess. 1:1-10, Lk. 12:13-31
St. Gregory of Tathev, Homily on the Rich



Sts Gregory the Wonderworker, Nicholas the Wonderworker and Bishop Myron
Wis. 10:9-12, Mal. 2:5-7, 1 Pet. 5:1-7, Jn. 10:11-16
St. John Chrysostom, From the Commentary on the Gospel according to John; Homily 14



Fifth Day of the Fast of Advent
Col. 4:5-18, Lk.12:1-12
St. John Mandakuni, Against Witches and Witchcraft



Fourth Day of the Fast of Advent
Presentation of the Holy Mother of God
Song. 1:1-11, Prov. 11:30- 12:4, Isa. 52:7-10, Zech. 2:10-13, Mal. 3:1-2, 2 Cor. 6:16-7:1, Lk. 1:39-56
Hovhannes Sarkavag, Prayer to the Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God



Third Day of the Fast of Advent
Col. 1:24-2:7, Lk. 11:33-42
Vardan of Aygek, Homily on Alms, Love and Mercy

