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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260101
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260102
DTSTAMP:20260514T114323
CREATED:20211009T063959Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T090806Z
UID:28950-1767225600-1767311999@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:New Years Day
DESCRIPTION:  \n \n  \nThe New Year (Gaghant\, Amanor or Navasart) has generally been a feast of joy and happiness for the Armenian people. It is customary to exchange gifts with family members and close friends and to bring delight to children with gifts. It is also customary to set the family table to the extent of their means with fruits and good things to eat\, thereby making the abundance and joy spread throughout the year. \nPresently all Christian churches celebrate the New Year on January 1. The word “January” or “Hunvar” means “birth”. Being born in January\, Christ saved mankind from eternal death and led to the Kingdom of Heaven. That’s why January became the year’s beginning. January 1 is the first day of the first month of the year of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. On January 1 a Divine Liturgy is celebrated as well as the Thanksgiving Prayer to welcome in the New Year with the Blessing of Pomegranates. At the end of the service\, each family takes home a blessed pomegranate. \nIn Christianity the pomegranate symbolises the diversity of God’s grace\, the Church.  Just as the seeds of the pomegranate are separated by thin membranes yet held tightly together\, in the same way the Christian Church holds all Christians around the world together in Christ’s love; though they are separate\, they are not divided. Thus the pomegranate shows unity in diversity. \nThe pomegranate’s crown represents Jesus’ crown and His sovereignty over the entire world. The red colour symbolises His salvific Blood that was shed for all. The popular belief is that each one contains 365 seeds corresponding to the number of days in a year\, symbolising new life in Christ and the New Year.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/new-years-day-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/New-Years.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260105
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260106
DTSTAMP:20260514T114323
CREATED:20211012T041857Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T092628Z
UID:28959-1767571200-1767657599@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Jrakalouyts (Jrakalooyts): Christmas Eve Candlemas
DESCRIPTION:  \nEve of Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ\, Candlelight (Lucernarium) Divine Liturgy\nAccording to the Armenian Church\, the day changes at 5:00 pm and thus the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ starts on the eve\, on the evening of January 5 and continues after midnight on January 6. \nOn the eve of the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ\, the special Jrakalouyts service takes place. \nDuring the solemn Vesper Vigil\, the young choristers or deacons begin to read or chant the Old Testament readings from Genesis\, Exodus and the Prophets prior to the proclamation of the Lord’s birth and manifestation during the Divine Liturgy. \nThe final solemn reading is the prophecy of Daniel. By candlelight\, one person reads the narrative of the prophecy and three others chant the song of the three holy children— Shadrach (Setrak)\, Meshach (Misak) and Abednego (Apetnakov). \n“Blessed are You\, Lord\, God of our fathers. Praised and glorified is Your name forever\, For You are fair in everything that You have done to us\, and all of Your deeds are true.” \nIn the Armenian Church we read this story on the eve of Christmas and Easter as an anticipation of Christ’s resurrection from the dead and the presence of the living Son of God in our midst assuring us of God’s healing and life restoring presence for all eternity. Just as the faithful boys are not burned by the heat of the furnace\, those who know and trust Christ will be saved from the flames of hell. \nAfter this\, the altar curtain\, which had been drawn in front of the altar\, is opened and the Divine Liturgy begins. \nThe Divine Liturgy (the lighting of the lamps service) is celebrated in honour of the manifestation of Jesus as the Son of God (“manifestation of God” is the literal meaning of the word “theophany”). \nIt is custom for the faithful to hold lit candles or lanterns during this service. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy\, the assembled faithful take the lit candles and lanterns home which symbolises the radiance of the spiritual light in our lives and hearts that the Saviour of the world and the Prince of Peace has given us through His humanity and His Divine direction. \nAll of our Christmas hymns exuberantly celebrate Jesus as the Light. He is the holy Light that God has shined on Earth. He is the radiant Saviour born to Mary the Mother of God. He is the heavenly lamp that illuminates the path of our lives\, allowing us to recognise our blessed purpose in life; and giving us the privilege of seeing God and knowing God. \n“I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness\, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/jrakalooyts-christmas-eve-candlemas-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Eve-of-Nativity.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260113
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260114
DTSTAMP:20260514T114323
CREATED:20211015T062954Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T093846Z
UID:28984-1768262400-1768348799@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Feast of the Naming of Our Lord Jesus Christ
DESCRIPTION:  \nEach year\, on January 13\, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Feast of Naming of Our Lord Jesus Christ. As Evangelist St. Luke writes in his Gospel\, according to the  Jewish tradition “On the eighth day\, when it was time to circumcise him\, he was named Jesus\, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.” (Lk 2:21). “Jesus” is a Hebrew word meaning “Saviour”.  As written in the Gospel according to Luke\, when the angel Gabriel came to Mary to give her the good tidings of the birth of the Son of the Most High\, he said that Mary would name the baby “Jesus”. “You will be with child and give birth to a son\, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” (Lk 1:31). \nParallel to the name “Jesus” the name “Christ” is given to the Saviour\, which is a Greek word meaning “Consecrated” and corresponding to the Hebrew word “Messiah”. \nOn the Feast of Naming of Our Lord Jesus Christ\, a Divine Liturgy is celebrated in all Armenian Churches. On the eve of the feast\, following the evening service a special service is conducted.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/feast-of-the-naming-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/circumcision-of-jesus-e1634716665793.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260113
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260114
DTSTAMP:20260514T114323
CREATED:20211015T065708Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T122045Z
UID:29116-1768262400-1768348799@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Feast of St. Sarkis the Captain\, Patron of Love and Youth\, his son Mardiros and his 14 Soldiers Companions
DESCRIPTION:  \nST SARKIS THE WARRIOR AND HIS SON ST MARDIROS (MARTYROS)\nThe feast day honoring St. Sarkis is movable.  It occurs between January 11th and February 15th.  Each year it follows the five day Fast of Catechumens. \nSarkis was a Greek from the area of Cappadocia on the Anatolian plain.  He was a proud\, brave Christian and served as a Roman army officer during the reign of Emperor Constantine (roughly 337 A.D.).  Sarkis’ valour\, strength and bravery earned him the rank of general. \nSarkis used his position of power for spiritual growth\, going from town to town purging the land of pagan idols\, teaching the Gospel\, and building churches where pagan temples once stood.  Sarkis had a good model in the piety of the Emperor Constantine. \nWhen Constantine died\, Christianity throughout the region came under attack from the new Roman leader\, Julian the Apostate.  Under his leadership\, pagans set about destroying churches and persecuting Christians. \nSeeing this\, Sarkis prayed.  Jesus appeared to him and said\, “It is time for you to leave your country and your clan\, as did Abraham the Patriarch\, and go to a country which I will show you.  There you will receive the crown of righteousness prepared for you.” \nSarkis left behind his noble title and power and headed with his son\, Mardiros\, to Armenia\, where they were welcomed by King Diran\, grandson of King Drtad (Tiridates). \nWhile Sarkis and Mardiros were in Armenia\, the Emperor Julian\, attempting to take over the known world\, continued to move eastward toward Antioch in Syria. Whenever the Roman army came upon Christians\, they were instantly killed.  Many people fled the invading armies. King Diran urged Sarkis to escape and seek refuge among the Persians. \nWhen Sarkis and his son arrived in Persia\, King Shapur\, hearing of his bravery\, appointed him a commander of the Persian military. As he continued to be victorious in battle\, Sarkis also continued to give the credit to God. \nWhen Julian’s troops started raiding lands near King Shapur’s kingdom\, Sarkis was sent to defend the territory.  Outnumbered by the Greek and Roman forces\, Sarkis’ troops were frightened. He told them that if they believed in the Creator of heaven and earth\, their hearts would never be shaken. Many of his soldiers were baptised by the priests travelling with the army\, and they succeeded in fending off a Roman attack. \nSome of Sarkis’ soldiers\, who had not been baptised\, went to King Shapur and told him that Sarkis was rebelling against the Persian ruler by preaching belief in Jesus. The king called Sarkis back to the palace\, where he\, his son\, and the newly-baptised soldiers were expected to attend a feast honouring the pagan gods. \nAt the temple\, the king asked Sarkis to offer a sacrifice to the pagan gods.  Sarkis refused\, saying he would only worship the one true God.  The king began to criticise Sarkis and his faith.  But Sarkis could not tolerate such talk\, so he spat in the king’s face and knocked down the temple idols.  The king and his followers were enraged by Sarkis’ actions\, so they killed his son\, Mardiros\, before his eyes. \nThe king then ordered Sarkis imprisoned.  In prison\, Sarkis was strengthened by his relationship with the Lord.  King Shapur heard of this and ordered Sarkis’ execution. \nAt his execution\, Sarkis began to pray.  An angel descended from heaven and told him\, “Be strong.  Do not fear the killers of your body; for the gate of the Kingdom of Heaven is open for you.”  Upon seeing the angel and understanding the power of everlasting life\, many of the pagans who had gathered for the execution became Christians. \nSarkis made one last passionate plea for people to accept Jesus Christ and then was killed. \nHis loyal Christian soldiers retrieved Sarkis’ body and wrapped it in clean linen with the intention of burying his body honorably.  When King Shapur heard of this reverence\, he ordered the soldiers killed as well. Eventually\, Christians found Sarkis’ body and it was sent to Assyria\, where it remained until the 5th Century when Mesrob Mashdots received his remains and moved them to Armenia. \nSoorp Sarkis is also known as the Armenian Valentine’s Day. \nIn one battle Sarkis with his 40 soldiers had defeated an enemy of 10\,000. St. Sarkis just like St. Valentine was a miracle worker. \nAccording to the legend\, after the great feast to celebrate their victory\, all forty soldiers and St Sarkis himself were tricked and intoxicated by a “Persian ruler” who then asked forty damsels to thrust sharp daggers into the hearts of sleeping young men and kill them. One of the damsels\, enchanted by the beauty of Sarkis\, disobeys the order and instead of killing Sarkis\, she kisses him. Sarkis awakens\, and distraught by what he sees\, he jumps on his white horse\, not forgetting the damsel\, and dashes away while a powerful storm rages outside. \nSince then\, a rider on a white horse has become the symbol of love in Armenian tradition. \nTradition in the Armenian culture follows that on the evening before the holiday\, unmarried girls and boys pray to the saint\, asking for his help in their love affairs. Before they go to bed they eat a special salty biscuit with no other food or drink\, so that in their dreams they will see their destined lover or their future spouse giving them water. \nPart reference: Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/feast-of-st-sarkis-the-captain-patron-of-love-and-youth-his-son-mardiros-and-his-14-soldiers-companions-3-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260115
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260116
DTSTAMP:20260514T114323
CREATED:20211015T063537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T094315Z
UID:28997-1768435200-1768521599@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Feast of the Birth of St John the Forerunner (Baptist)
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Armenian Apostolic Church\, observes the Feast of the Birth of St John the Baptist\, the Forerunner\, in January. The birth of St John is described in detail in the Gospel according to St Luke (1:5-25). He is known as the ‘forerunner’ because it was he who would herald the news of the Saviour through the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. \nOne day Zechariah\, father of St John the Baptist\, was doing his work as a priest in the Temple and was burning incense on the altar. An angel of the Lord appeared to him and said that God had heard his prayer and his wife would bear him a son. Zechariah had to name him John. Zechariah didn’t believe the angel as he was and old man\, and his wife was old too. As he hadn’t believed the angel\, he became unable to speak and remained silent until the birth of John. \nSt John the Baptist\, who would baptise the Saviour\, had been aware of and rejoiced at the knowledge of the birth of Jesus\, even before his birth. According to the Evangelist\, when St Mary\, Holy Mother of God\, visited Elizabeth\, mother of St John the Baptist\, the latter\, being filled with the Holy Spirit cried out\, “Why should this great thing happen to me\, that my Lord’s mother comes to visit me? For as soon as I heard your greeting\, the baby within me jumped with gladness” (Lk 1:43-44). \nThe continuation of the words of Elizabeth are the message of this feast addressed to all Christians throughout the world\, “How happy you are to believe that the Lord’s message to you will come true!” (Lk 1:45). \nOn this occasion\, those bearing Armenian names rooted in ‘St John the Baptist\, the Forerunner’\,  Hovhannes (John)\, Meguerditch (Baptist) and Garabed (Forerunner) celebrate their name day.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/feast-of-the-birth-of-st-john-the-forerunner-baptist-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/st-john-the-baptist-birth.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260119
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260120
DTSTAMP:20260514T114323
CREATED:20211101T053423Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T100428Z
UID:29010-1768780800-1768867199@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of St Anton (Anthony) the Hermit\, St Tryphon\, St Barsam & St Onuphrius
DESCRIPTION:  \n  \nSome time after the spread of Christianity\, the ascetic movement began. Hermits were people who devoted themselves entirely to God\, withdrew to uninhabited places and through prayer and fasting\, by the grace of God\, overcame human weaknesses\, achieving spiritual perfection. Years later\, hermits also received the gift of healing through miracles and prayers. \nSt Anthony the Hermit is the founder of ascetic and monastic life. He was born in the village Koma\, Egypt\, in 251\, in a noble family. After his parents’ death Anthony inherited their wealth. Whilst in church\, he listened to the evangelical commandment\, in which Jesus says: “If you want to be perfect\, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor\, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me.” (Mt 19:21). Being led by this commandment\, Anthony sold all of his property and lived in the spirit of praying\, fasting and doing charity. \nAnthony lived in a time of transition for Christianity\, the Diocletianic Persecution in AD 303 was the last great formal persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. Only ten years later\, Christianity was made legal in Egypt by Diocletian’s successor Constantine I. Those who left for the desert formed an alternate Christian society\, at a time when it was no longer a risk to be a Christian. The solitude\, austerity\, and sacrifice of the desert was seen by Anthony as an alternative to martyrdom\, which was formerly seen by many Christians as the highest form of sacrifice. Anthony quickly gained followers eager to live their lives in accordance with this solidarity and separation from material goods. From these prohibitions\, it is recorded by Athanasius that Anthony received special privileges from God\, such as the ability to heal the sick\, inspire others to have faith in healing through God\, and even converse with God on occasion. Around this time\, desert monasticism appeared nearly simultaneously in several areas\, including Egypt and Syria. \nOver time\, the model of Anthony and other hermits attracted many followers\, who lived alone in the desert or in small groups. They chose a life of extreme asceticism\, renouncing all the pleasures of the senses\, rich food\, baths\, rest and anything that made them comfortable. They instead focused their energies on praying\, singing psalms\, fasting\, giving alms to the needy\, and preserving love and harmony with one another while keeping their thoughts and desires for God alone. Thousands joined them in the desert\, mostly men but also a handful of women. Religious seekers also began going to the desert seeking advice and counsel from the early Desert Fathers. By the time of Anthony’s death\, there were so many men and women living in the desert that it was described as “a city”. \nSt Anthony died at the age of 105\, having earned the heavenly unfading crown\, becoming an example for Christians of all times with his unshakable faith and great spiritual strength. \nThere were other ascetics as well. St Tryphon\, who was martyred in the city of Nicaea during the reign of Emperor Decius\, St Barsam (Parsemius) the hermit who lived in the Syrian deserts in the middle of the 5th century\, and the Egyptian hermit St Onuphrius (4th century). After staying in a monastery for some time\, the latter withdrew to the desert\, where he lived for 60 years without meeting anyone. St Onuphrius\, like other hermits\, healed many people through the power of prayer and saved them from suffering. That is why this saint is especially invoked for the healing of children and during difficult childbirth. The Armenian Apostolic Church attaches special importance to hermits and has holidays dedicated to their memory.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-st-anton-anthony-the-hermit-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Anthony-desert.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260120
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260121
DTSTAMP:20260514T114323
CREATED:20211022T053821Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T101113Z
UID:29023-1768867200-1768953599@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of the King St Theodosius and Children of Ephesus
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Armenian Church commemorates Theodosius I\, the Roman Emperor (379 to 395) who put an end to the last of paganism and the Arian heresy in the empire (The doctrine denying the true divinity of Christ\, named after the Alexandrian priest Arius c. 250–c. 336). He was recognised as a “just and mighty Christian emperor” and was called “the Great.” During his reign\, he devoted considerable time and energy to the establishment of the universal and orthodox faith and deemed that the unlawful meetings of the heretics were not to be called churches. \nHe is also remembered for his pious behaviour. Ambrose\, the Bishop of Milan\, effectively excommunicated the Emperor\, pending a public statement of repentance\, as punishment for the massacre he had ordered in Thessalonica. Many scholars believe that the massacre was a result of the soldiers’ misinterpreting the Emperor’s orders. King Theodosius repented for eight months until he was able to walk into the church\, thus taking part in the holy liturgy. \nThe legend of the Seven Children of Ephesus dates back to the 3rd century A.D\, during the rule of Emperor Decius\, who persecuted Christians. Seven youths\, all children of notable men\, secretly got baptised and were named Maximian\, Marcian\, Jamblichus\, Dionysius\, Constantine\, Antonius and John. When they were exposed as Christians\, they fled Ephesus in 250AD and hid in a cave outside the city walls and fell asleep for a century and a half. An earthquake opened the cave and awakened them in 389AD during the reign of Theodosius. When people became aware of that divine miracle\, the king and the residents of Ephesus met the persecuted Christians with great respect and honour. The seven young men returned to the cave\, where they passed away and were entombed\, with the site becoming a shrine.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-the-king-st-theodosius-and-children-of-ephesus-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Theodosius.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260124
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260125
DTSTAMP:20260514T114323
CREATED:20211015T085132Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T125247Z
UID:29170-1769212800-1769299199@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of 150 Pontiffs participating in the Ecumenical Council of Constantinople
DESCRIPTION:  \nDuring different periods of history\, the Ecumenical Church has faced various problems of doctrinal\, administrative and organisational natures\, solutions to which have been provided during the Ecumenical Councils. One of such councils was the Second Ecumenical Council\, convened upon the order of the King Theodosios in Constantinople\, in 381. \nAs the result of Arian disputes\, a new heresy had appeared\, the head and supporter of which was Bishop Makedon of Constantinople\, who denied the deity of the Holy Spirit. The Ecumenical Council convened in Constantinople on that special occasion\, re-endorsed the definition of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea and the concept of “One deity\, three persons”. \nAccepting the Ecumenical Council\, the Armenian Apostolic Church commemorates the memory of 150 Patriarchs participating in the Council.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-150-pontiffs-participating-in-the-ecumenical-council-of-constantinople-3-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260126
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260127
DTSTAMP:20260514T114323
CREATED:20250519T111808Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T115113Z
UID:29083-1769385600-1769471999@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Fast of the Catechumens or Arachavorats Bahk
DESCRIPTION:The Fast of Catechumens (or Arachavorats Bahk) is peculiar only to the Armenian Church. It begins three weeks before Great Lent. In ancient times people could eat only bread and salt during the Fast of Catechumens. On those days it was not allowed to celebrate the Divine Liturgy either. \n\nThe meaning of the Fast of Catechumens is the purification of the five human senses from pagan impurity. In the ancient Church there was a custom to fast during five days before baptism. St Gregory the Illuminator ordered King Tiridates and others to fast for five days before baptism in order to get freed of evil. This is the reason that the Fast of Catechumens is also called “Fast of Salvation” from evil. \nAccording to tradition\, the fasting of Catechumens was initiated by St. Gregory the illuminator in memory of the above mentioned practice. \nThere are two explanations regarding the name of this feast.\nIt is called the fast of Catechumens:\n1. As the precursor of the Great Lent\, and\n2. As the first Armenian fast. \nOn the fifth day of the fasting of Catechumens\, on Friday\, the remembrance day of the Prophet Jonah is celebrated\, but it is celebrated not as the feast of the Prophet Jonah\, but as the memory of an example of great repentance and abstinence which Jonah urged. At times\, wrongly\, the fasting of Catechumens was called the fast of St. Sarkis\, because the Armenian Church celebrates the feast of St. Sarkis on the Saturday following the fast. During the Middle Ages\, the Byzantine and the Georgian Churches blamed the Armenian Church for the fasting of Catechumens\, relating it to St. Sarkis\, to whom they ascribed sorcery. According to the testimonies of Armenian medieval writers\, Greek and Latin Churches also had the fasting of Catechumens in ancient times. \n\nOf all the days in the Armenian liturgical year\, only the days of the Arachavorats Bahk have no scripture readings appointed to be read during the daily services. The word “Arachavorats” comes from two root words: arach (before) and avoor (day). So the literal translation would be something like “preceding days.” In English it is best referred to as the “Preliminary Fast\,” in other words\, the fast that precedes the Great Fast\, Great Lent.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/arachavorats-bahk-or-the-preliminary-fast-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/St-Gregory-King-Trdat.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260130
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260131
DTSTAMP:20260514T114323
CREATED:20211015T110815Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T120857Z
UID:29094-1769731200-1769817599@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of the Prophet Jonah
DESCRIPTION:  \n\nOn the fifth day (Friday) of the Fasting of Catechumens\, the Armenian Church commemorates the remembrance day of the Prophet Jonah. However it is celebrated not as the feast of the Prophet Jonah\, but as the memory of an example of great repentance and abstinence\, which Jonah urged. \nThe Fast of the Catechumens is a penitential period\, focusing on spiritual purification\, mirroring the catechumens’ preparation for baptism. Commemorations during this fast are intentionally somber\, introspective\, and penitential\, not celebratory. \nJonah’s story is remembered not to glorify him as a prophet\, but to emphasise the call to repentance—both Jonah’s own reluctance and the repentance of the Ninevites. \nThe prophet Jonah is one of the minor prophets of the Holy Bible. Jonah is the central figure of the Book of Jonah\, which details his reluctance in delivering God’s judgement on the city of Nineveh\, and then his subsequent\, albeit begrudged\, return to the divine mission after he is swallowed by a large sea creature. Jonah remained inside the fish for three days and three nights. It was only after Jonah’s prayer and redemption did the Lord allow the fish to free Jonah. This time he obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh. On the first day\, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.” The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast\, and all of them\, from the greatest to the least\, even the king\, put on sackcloth. When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways\, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. \n\nLater Christ brings the example of the Prophet Jonah to the Pharisees asking for a divine sign: \nThen some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him\, “Teacher\, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them\, “An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign\, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster\, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth.”  \n-Matthew 12:38-40 \n  \n  \n\n  \n\n  \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-the-prophet-jonah-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Jonah-e1634716461704.jpeg
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