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Second Palm Sunday

Sunday, May 12

 

The name of the feast is derived from Palm Sunday, which precedes Easter. The Second Palm Sunday is the commemoration of the triumphant entry of the Ascended Christ into the Heavenly Jerusalem, where the angels meet him with great happiness and delight.

According to old beliefs, during St Gregory the Illuminator’s imprisonment in the pit, he was visited every day by the same angel. However one day, the angel did not come. The following morning, St Gregory inquired as to the reason for his absence, to which the angel responded that during the Ascension, Christ had passed through the ranks of the Angels and thus they celebrate that feast each year. The angel visiting St Gregory was from the fourth class of angelic hosts, and thus, on the fourth day following the Ascension, his rank of angels commemorates and celebrates Christ’s Ascension to heaven every year.

St Gregory of Datev, one of the greatest theologians of the Armenian Church, has his own famous interpretation of this event. Prior to His Ascension, the ranks of angels, except for the lowest class, who served Christ during His earthly life, were not aware of Christ’s incarnation for the salvation of man. St Gregory’s commentary states that when the Lord was passing through the ranks of angels, they were surprised and asked, “Who was that powerful king?” The angels accompanying Christ thus informed them.

This dialogue of angels is presented in the Holy Bible as follows:

“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors;
and the King of glory shall come in.”
“Who is this King of glory?  The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in
battle.”
“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors;
and the King of glory shall come in.”
“Who is this King of glory?”
“The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.”
 (Psalms 24:7-10)

This beautiful angelic dialogue is heard during the Divine Liturgy, as the deacon approaches the celebrant priest with the chalice during the Great Entrance (Verapehroom).

Second Palm Sunday is one more reminder of the Ascension of Christ and grants us the hope for ascending to heaven after our deaths and being in the bliss of God’s presence.

 

Details

Date:
Sunday, May 12
Event Category:

Details

Date:
Sunday, May 12
Event Category: