The Armenian Monastery of Hagigadar (literally, ‘the wish-fulfilling’) near Suceava in north-eastern Romania is one of the most important monuments to the Armenian Diaspora’s centuries-long presence in this land. In mid-August, on the feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God, hundreds of Armenians from around the country travel there for their annual gathering and religious celebration of the Armenian Apostolic Church. At the same time, Romanian Orthodox Christians make their traditional pilgrimage to Hagigadar: walk on their knees around the church of the Holy Mother of God, pray next to its walls, and leave their donations and petitions.

Pilgrims greet the Armenian Apostolic Church’s procession to the Hagigadar Monastery near Suceava during the Feast of the Assumption. © Konrad Siekierski

Armenian procession enters the Church of the Holy Mother of God. At the same time, Romanian Orthodox pilgrims circle the shrine on their knees. © Konrad Siekierski

Romanian Orthodox pilgrims pray and leave donations in front of the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Holy Mother of God (Hagigadar Monastery, Suceava). © Konrad Siekierski

Armenian Liturgy in the Church of Holy Mother of God (Hagigadar Monastery, Suceava) during the Feast of the Assumption. © Konrad Siekierski

A bell of the Hagigadar Monastery with pilgrims’ requests attached to its heart. © Konrad Siekierski

Konrad Siekierski is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, King’s College London. Images in this series were taken by Konrad in August of 2011 and 2012.