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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270320
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270321
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211016T002542Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T040311Z
UID:29359-1805500800-1805587199@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Lazarus Saturday
DESCRIPTION:  \nOn the 41st day of the period of Great Lent\, the Armenian Church commemorates Lazarus being raised from the dead. \nIn the Armenian Church\, Holy Week (Avak Shapat) begins not on Palm Sunday\, but on Lazarus Saturday\, the day before Palm Sunday. It is not a fasting day or a saints’ day\, even though Lazarus is a saint in the Armenian Church. It is a dominical day on which daily services\, including Badarak\, are celebrated. \nThe story of the raising of Lazarus\, the last event prior to Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday\, properly initiates Holy Week and sets the theme of Zadig (Easter)\, and it is Easter that sets the theme for our lives. \nThe Gospel according to St. John (Jn 11:11-46) relates the story. Lazarus was from a family loved by Jesus Christ. He was the brother of Mary and Martha\, who often received Jesus. Lazarus died after succumbing to an illness. Upon hearing that His friend has died\, Christ went to visit the family\, and said to Martha\, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in me will live\, even though he dies…” \nChrist asks Martha if she believes this\, to which she replies\, “Yes\, Lord.  I do believe that you are the Messiah\, who was to come into the world.” Christ\, standing before the grave\, commands Lazarus to come forth\, and he appears\, being restored to life. By doing so\, Christ proves that He is\, in fact\, “Life and Resurrection”. \nThe Gospel story telling about the raising of Lazarus contains the passage: “Jesus wept.” The Jews\, seeing Jesus expressing grief\, said: “See how much he loved him!” \nThe raising of Lazarus is an example of the coming resurrection of all those who have fallen asleep in Christ. The weeping of Jesus demonstrates His great love towards mankind. \nIt is not the story of the person of Lazarus that draws the attention for Armenian Christians\, rather what it tells us about Jesus Christ\, the Caller to Life\, and the temporary chapter that is death. Jesus has conquered death\, and shares with us his resurrection of life (see Romans 8:11\, I Peter 1:3). \n“In His humanity Jesus wept for Lazarus; in His divinity he raised him from the dead.” Pope Leo I
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/lazarus-saturday-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Lazarus.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270321
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270322
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211016T065523Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T053018Z
UID:29373-1805587200-1805673599@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Palm Sunday: Dzaghgazart and Trnpatsek
DESCRIPTION:  \nPalm Sunday is celebrated with the Divine Liturgy\, when the altar curtain reopens\, after being closed for the period of Lent. \nThe celebration marks the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem as he rode on a donkey. Crowds gathered to greet him spreading cloaks and branches before him\, shouting “Hosanna in the highest” to welcome the long awaited Messiah. \nFollowing the Divine Liturgy\, the Trnpatsek ceremony (Opening of the Doors) takes place. \nThe story of Palm Sunday itself is going through a door\, as Jesus enters Jerusalem. In the Armenian Church\, it’s also the doorway to Holy Week. The door is the vivid central image of Trnpatsek. This ceremony involves two voices\, the priest and the deacon\, each positioned on either side of the door (or the closed altar curtain). \nThe deacon\, is outside\, kneeling in front of the door or curtain as he pleads on behalf of the faithful for the Lord to open His Kingdom to us. \nThe priest\, who is positioned behind the door\, inside the church or near the altar\, represent the voice of Jesus Christ\, guarding the gates of the Kingdom. \nThe service commences with the words “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. From the Lord’s house\, we praise You!” These words are from the book of Psalms. The crowds of Jerusalem shouted them at Jesus when he entered the city on the first Palm Sunday. \n“Confess the Lord\, for He is good; His mercy will last forever. Out of my distress I called on the Lord\, but with the Lord on my side\, I have no fear. The Lord is my strength and my might; He has become my Salvation. Open to me this door of righteousness\, that I may enter through it and confess the Lord.” \nAs the deacon is speaking for us\, the faithful can join their voices with the deacon’s sharagan “Grant us vigilance…let the door of the mercy of the heavenly bridegroom be opened to us. You are my hope\, O Lord…make me worthy of Your Holy Kingdom.” It’s at this point we hear the knock at the door as the deacon knocks three times. If the deacon is kneeling before the altar curtain\, he strikes a wooden plank. All the while he chants the beautiful melody “Pats Mez Der” (Open for Us\, Lord). “Open for us\, Lord\, the door of mercy\, we cry to You lamenting.” \nNow\, from the other side of the door or curtain\, we hear the priest\, the voice of Christ calling to us “Come O blessed of My Father\, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world.” It’s the answer all the faithful have been praying for. The doors open\, the faithful enter the church and with spiritual joy we sing\, “Open the doors of righteousness for me; Let me enter and confess the Lord.” \nTrnpatsek points us to the true door and brings to life the words of Christ “I am the door; if anyone enters by Me\, he will be saved.” \nPalm Sunday is also proclaimed Children’s Blessing Day in the Armenian Apostolic Church. Traditionally\, children come to Church with their families dressed in their Sunday best to partake in Holy Mass and a special blessing service before the altar. At the conclusion of the Church service\, a procession is led outside the Church\, by the celebrant\, with the children holding decorated candles. \nOn Palm Sunday\, churches are decorated with branches from willow trees and palm trees.  Following a solemn morning service\, the blessed branches are distributed to the faithful. \nThe triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem introduces the historical events leading up to Christ’s betrayal\, crucifixion and resurrection. Together with Lazarus Saturday\, the day before\, it also commences the dense liturgical time of Holy Week. With joyous shouts of “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” the residents of Jerusalem greeted Jesus\, telling those who were unsure of what was happing\, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.” \nJesus\, Himself greeted as a prophet\, was also the fulfillment and culmination of prophecies. This fulfillment is in part why we celebrate the Resurrection of Lazarus the week before Easter. Just like Jonah\, who was in the belly of the great fish for three days\, was a foreshadowing of Jesus’ Resurrection\, so the resurrection of Lazarus anticipates the Resurrection of Christ\, which all Christians celebrate on Easter. \nPalm Sunday reminds each of us about the Coming of Christ\, and teaches us to live in a manner that can make us worthy to stand before the Lord and exclaim: “Hosanna (Praise God)! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/palm-sunday-dzaghgazart-2-2-3-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Palm-Sunday-e1634366544635.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270322
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270323
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211016T102112Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T053650Z
UID:29386-1805673600-1805759999@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Holy Monday
DESCRIPTION:  \nOn Holy Monday\, the scriptures help us remember the story of Creation\, of man’s fall into sinfulness as well as the story of the barren fig tree\, which Christ dried up because it bore no fruit. \nThe Gospel readings tell us about the story of the “cursed fig tree.” Jesus was going from Bethany to Jerusalem. He was hungry and saw a fig tree by the side of the road and went to it\, but found nothing on it except leaves. So He said to the tree\, “You will never again bear fruit!” At once the fig tree dried up. The disciples saw this and were astounded. “How did the fig tree dry up so quickly?” they asked. Jesus answered\, “If you believe you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Mt 21:22). \nOn this day\, the faithful are invited to remember the lesson that we are created in the image of God\, and we are called to examine our inner selves and with clean hearts and thoughts to renew our faithfulness and transform our lives and bear the fruits of virtue. \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/holy-monday-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Holy-Monday-e1634717599137.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270323
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270324
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211016T103648Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T054200Z
UID:29396-1805760000-1805846399@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Holy Tuesday
DESCRIPTION:  \n\n\n\nOn Holy Tuesday we read the story of the ten maidens (virgins)\, five of whom were wise enough to bring extra oil for their lamps while they were waiting for the bridegroom to come and take them to a wedding feast. Five foolish maids did not bring extra oil\, and while they went out to buy more\, the bridegroom arrived and took the five wise maids into the wedding banquet with him. \nIn this parable\, Jesus describes the Heavenly Kingdom as being like the ten maidens waiting with trimmed lanterns for a bridegroom\, five being wise and five being foolish. \nThis parable conveys the message of the last Judgment and appeals to us that we must always be ready and prepared for the coming of Christ. \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/holy-tuesday-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Holy-Tuesday-2.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270324
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270325
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211016T110141Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T055014Z
UID:29413-1805846400-1805932799@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Holy Wednesday
DESCRIPTION:  \n\n\nHoly Wednesday commemorates the anointing of Jesus Christ by a woman in Bethany and the Betrayal of Christ. \nIn the Gospel of St. Matthew\, we learn that while Jesus was dining with his Apostles in Bethany\, in the home of Simon the leper\, a woman came in with an alabaster jar filled with valuable perfume. She opened the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus’ head. The disciples witnessing this act become upset\, as the perfume could have been sold and the proceeds could have been given to the poor. Jesus hearing their displeasure said\, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for me. For you always have the poor with you; but me you do not always have me.”  The woman’s actions foreshadowed His preparation for burial. “For in that she has poured this ointment on my body\, she did it for my burial\,” said Christ (Mt 26:6-13). \nFollowing this we learn that one of the Twelve\, who was called Judas Iscariot\, went to the high priests and inquired\, “What are you willing to give me if I betray Jesus to you?” They offered him 30 pieces of silver\, and from then on he began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus. (Mt 26:14-16). \nOn Holy Wednesday we thus remember two contrasting lessons; the betrayal of Jesus and the worshipful anointing of Jesus to show love and respect for Him. Examining our lives and comparing them with the two types of contrasting acts\, the church asks “What are you doing as a child of God? Are you betraying your Lord with your actions or are you faithfully and lovingly worshipping Him?” \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/holy-wednesday-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Holy-Wednesday.jpeg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270325
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270326
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211016T123808Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T055438Z
UID:29426-1805932800-1806019199@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Holy (Maundy) Thursday - Avak Hingshapty
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Armenian Church has three services on Maundy Thursday\, symbolising three different events in the last days of the earthly ministry of Christ. The morning service commemorates The Last Supper\, at which Jesus instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist by giving Holy Communion to His disciples. \nDuring a Passover meal\, Christ broke and distributed unleavened bread and shared the wine with His apostles\, identifying these elements as His Body and Blood. Through this sacrament\, mankind participates in the Kingdom of God. \nIn the afternoon the Washing of the Feet (Vodnleva) service takes place\, commemorating the humility and service of our Lord Jesus Christ in washing the feet of His disciples. During this service\, twelve young men beautifully portray the Apostles while the celebrant portrays Christ himself\, taking off his outer robe and washing their feet as a sign of humility and servitude. During this time also\, olive oil or butter is blessed and used for the anointing of feet. The faithful are given a portion of this oil to bring to their homes at the conclusion of the service. \nAs per the Gospel of John\, on the evening He was betrayed\, Jesus “poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet\, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him” (John 13:5). \n“When He had finished washing their feet\, He put on his clothes and returned to His place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them…. ‘Now that I\, your Lord and Teacher\, have washed your feet\, you also should wash one another’s feet’” (verses 12\, 14). \nIn the days of dusty roads and open-toed sandals\, feet often became dirty\, and it was the job of the lowest servants to wash the guests’ feet. But Jesus set an example of service by doing this job himself\, despite the protests from Peter. \nWhen Jesus said\, wash one another’s feet\, He meant\, serve one another. Jesus is saying that we should humble ourselves and be willing to do even menial tasks for one another. \nWhen we serve one another throughout the year\, helping one another with real needs\, we are obeying the spirit of the law of Christ. \n\n\nA sombre Vigil service is held in the evening\, commemorating the betrayal\, arrest\, trial and suffering of Christ. Khavaroom (Darkness) is undoubtedly the most spiritually compelling and moving of all the Armenian Church’s services. It consists of an elaborate Night Service (Keesherayeen Zham) plus the Morning Service (Aravodyan Zham)\, liturgically part of Good Friday\, but in actuality performed late on Holy Thursday. \nDuring Khavaroom\, we keep vigil along with the Apostles\, who did so while Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Seven passages are read from the Gospel which reflect the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane\, the betrayal of Judas\, the commitment of Jesus to the crowd\, His standing before Annas and Caiaphas\, His being struck and mocked\, Peter’s three denials and regret. The readings from the Gospels are interspersed with the readings of psalms and the singing of hymns (sharagans) written by St. Nerses the Graceful. \nThe readings are as follows: John 13:16-18:1; Luke 22:1-65; Mark 14:27-72; Matthew 26:31-56; Matthew 26:57-75; John 18:2-27; John 18:28-19:16. \nThe service starts with thirteen candles: one large central candle\, with eleven smaller lit candles and one smaller black candle unlit. The unlit candle symbolises Judas Iscariot\, who would betray Christ that evening. Six candles sit on either side of the central candle. The thirteen candles are placed before either a cross or a painting of the Crucifixion at the center of the altar. Following each Gospel lesson\, the candles are extinguished two by two. A single candle is left to remind us of Christ’s singular presence in the darkness and the fact that Jesus was left alone to die on the cross. The faithful listen to each Gospel reading\, usually on their feet. In some Armenian Church communities\, the faithful tie seven hitch knots on a white thread\, one for each Gospel reading. After the service\, they tie it on their wrist and keep them tied for forty days until Christ’s ascension. \nAfter the Bible readings\, the final candle and all the lights of the church are extinguished and “Glory to God in the Highest” (Park ee Partsoons) is sung. In some places\, the clergy then chant Der Voghormia forty times in a particular plaintive tone. While not mentioned in the rubrics for the Khavaroom service\, the beautiful hymn “Where are you\, my mother?” (Oor es Mayr Im) is often sung after Park ee Partsoons\, whilst the church is still dark. \nAt the conclusion of the service\, the Worship of the Holy Cross (Khachi Ko Krisdos Yergirbakanemk) is conducted. \nTraditionally\, Armenians have always attended Khavaroom in large numbers. In many places throughout the world\, this important vigil service can be of great length\, lasting into the late hours of the night and thus for practical purposes\, it has been condensed to a more suitable length. \n\n\nHoly Thursday is beyond a doubt the longest and weightiest liturgical day of the year\, one very close to the hearts of the Armenian people throughout the centuries. The service of Maundy Thursday prepares us to remember the suffering and crucifixion of our Lord on Good Friday. \n  \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/holy-maundy-thursday-avak-hingshapty-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/The-last-supper.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270326
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270327
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211017T061417Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T055912Z
UID:29439-1806019200-1806105599@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Good Friday - Avak Ourpat
DESCRIPTION:  \n\n\n\nGood Friday (Holy Friday)\, commemorates Christ’s tortures\, Crucifixion\, Death and Burial. \nOn Friday morning\, Jesus\, subjected to all kinds of humiliation\, was forced personally to carry the heavy wooden cross to the heights of Golgotha. Suffering intensely\, He reached Golgotha where the Crucifixion was accomplished. By midday He was already nailed to the Cross. Fixed on it were the deriding words\, “Jesus of Nazareth\, King of the Jews.” Four Roman soldiers had carried out the sentence. Jesus’ robe fell by lot to one of them. The act conforms to Psalm 22:18\,”they divided my garments among them\, and for my raiment they cast lots.” According to Matthew 27:35\, “And when they had crucified him they divided his garments among them by casting lots.” At noon the sun darkened over.  The crowd dispersed.  For three hours there was utter confusion.  Jesus\, having shed His blood\, had reached His end. \nThe Crucifixion Service (Gark Khachelootyan) takes place first with Psalms\, hymns and readings commemorating the crucifixion\, final hours and final sayings of Christ. The Worship of the Holy Cross is performed once again\, with everyone standing\, as there is no liturgical kneeling allowed during the daytime on Good Friday. \nJesus\, who had been crucified along with two robbers\, needed to be taken down from the Cross and buried that same day. It was against Jewish custom to conduct a burial on the Sabbath (Saturday). The soldiers tested to see if Jesus had died. One of them pierced Jesus’ side with a spear\, and blood and water flowed out. It confirmed Jesus’ death. \nThe burial was undertaken by special permission by a devout man named Joseph of Arimathea. The vault was in his own garden\, at the foot of Golgotha. Devout women of Galilee were there. The body was placed in a tomb hewn into a rock\, and a huge rock was placed at the door. On the insistence of the priests\, the governor ordered a guard to be placed at the tomb\, for three days. \nThe Burial Service (Gark Taghman) is performed late on the afternoon of Holy Friday\, this being one of the more beloved services of the Armenian people. During this service a “tomb” (or representation) is draped in black and decorated with candles and flowers\, which the faithful bring as an offering to the crucified Lord of Glory. During this service\, a very beautiful and haunting rendition of the hymn “Soorp Asdvadz” is sung. The Worship of the Cross is performed once again\, whilst kneeling. At the end of the service\, the faithful are invited to approach and venerate the tomb\, and to receive a flower. \nThe Requiem Service (Entanour Hokehankist) directly follows the Gark Taghman. \n  \n\n\n\nCourtesy of “Feasts of the Armenian Church and National Traditions” by Garo Bedrosian\, 1993
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/good-friday-avak-ourpat-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Crucifixion-e1634449227266.jpg
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270327
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270328
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211017T063507Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T060726Z
UID:29452-1806105600-1806191999@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Holy Saturday: Jrakalouyts
DESCRIPTION:  \n\n\n\nThe Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ starts on the eve and continues after midnight. \nOn Holy Saturday\, in the evening\, the Vigil Office of the Lighting of Lamps (Jrakalooyts) commences at sundown\, the entry into Easter Sunday. \nDuring this service of scripture lessons\, the faithful hear the prophecies proudly heralding Christ’s Resurrection. The crossing of the Israelites through the Red Sea\, the taking up of Elijah in the Chariot of Fire\, the story of Jonah the Prophet and the salvation of the Three Young Men in the Fiery Furnace are all among those readings which foreshadow mankind’s salvation\, the victory over death and the destruction of hell brought about by Christ’s Resurrection. \nThe vigil readings give way immediately into the Vigil Divine Liturgy\, the first to be celebrated in triumphant commemoration of Jesus’ Resurrection from among the dead. \nFollowing the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy\, the assembled faithful welcome each other on the occasion of the Glorious Resurrection of Christ conveying the great tiding:  “Christ is Risen from the dead” and receive the answer: “Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ.” The faithful take lit candles home\, symbolising the Light that Christ brought into the world. \n  \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/holy-saturday-jrakalouyts-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Holy-Saturday.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270403
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270404
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211023T072914Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T063400Z
UID:29492-1806710400-1806796799@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of the Beheading of St John the Baptist
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Saturday following the Holy Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ\, the Armenian Church commemorates the beheading of St John the Baptist (also known as The Forerunner). \nThe writers of the Gospels\, St Matthew and St Mark\, have explained the history of beheading of St John the Baptist\, who had baptised Christ and gave the good news of His Coming (Mt 14:1-12; St. Mk 6:14-29). \nAccording to the Evangelists\, King Herod arrests and imprisons St John the Baptist\, as a result of John’s condemnation of the king’s marriage to Herodias\, the wife of his brother Philip. Herod wants to put John to death\, but fears the Jews because they considered John to be a prophet. \nOn Herod’s birthday\, fascinated by the dancing of the daughter of Herodias (Salome)\, the king makes an oath to give her anything for which she asks. Following her unforgiving mother’s instructions\, she asks for the head of St John the Baptist on a platter. The king\, realising he has been fooled\, grants the request. \nSt John the Baptist is one of the greatest saints in the Armenian Church. We entreat his name as an intercessor during the divine services\, generally following the name of St Mary. According to tradition\, St Gregory the Illuminator\, brought the relics of St John to Armenia from Caesarea\, and buried them near the town of Moush\, after which the famous Monastery of St John the Baptist was built. Tradition also tells us that the head of St John the Baptist is buried underneath the Holy Altar of the Gandzasar Monastery in Artsakh. St John the Baptist remains one of the most popular saints among the Armenian faithful.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-the-beheading-of-st-john-the-baptist-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270404
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270405
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211023T074955Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T063829Z
UID:29505-1806796800-1806883199@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:New (Renewal) Sunday
DESCRIPTION:  \nNew Sunday or Renewal Sunday (Nor Giragi) is also called Second Easter (Grgnazadig)\, which means “Easter repeated” as it is the eighth day of Easter and a day similar to Easter in readings and hymns. \nThe significance of the Resurrection of our Lord is essential to our faith\, we are given a new life with our Risen Saviour. This message is conveyed and re-enforced visibly and liturgically also on Sunday following Easter. We are renewed as new creatures with Christ’s resurrection\, “So if anyone is in Christ\, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see\, everything has become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). \nOne of our Church fathers and a great theologian\, St Gregory of Tatev\, explains that there are three reasons for calling this feast New Sunday. The first one is liberation. We are free from all the chains of sin and renewed by the blood of God. The second reason is the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. With His Resurrection Christ conquered death making us new creatures redeemed by the grace of God. Lastly\, it is called a New Sunday for Salvation. We have a renewed hope for forgiveness of our sins. St. Gregory of Tatev elaborated further that New Sunday is a reminder of the joy and celebration of Easter that’s why it is called Grgnazadig\, Easter again. \nRef: Vemkar.us \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/new-renewal-sunday-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20280423
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20280424
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211023T074955Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T063921Z
UID:29508-1840060800-1840147199@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:New (Renewal) Sunday
DESCRIPTION:  \nNew Sunday or Renewal Sunday (Nor Giragi) is also called Second Easter (Grgnazadig)\, which means “Easter repeated” as it is the eighth day of Easter and a day similar to Easter in readings and hymns. \nThe significance of the Resurrection of our Lord is essential to our faith\, we are given a new life with our Risen Saviour. This message is conveyed and re-enforced visibly and liturgically also on Sunday following Easter. We are renewed as new creatures with Christ’s resurrection\, “So if anyone is in Christ\, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see\, everything has become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). \nOne of our Church fathers and a great theologian\, St Gregory of Tatev\, explains that there are three reasons for calling this feast New Sunday. The first one is liberation. We are free from all the chains of sin and renewed by the blood of God. The second reason is the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. With His Resurrection Christ conquered death making us new creatures redeemed by the grace of God. Lastly\, it is called a New Sunday for Salvation. We have a renewed hope for forgiveness of our sins. St. Gregory of Tatev elaborated further that New Sunday is a reminder of the joy and celebration of Easter that’s why it is called Grgnazadig\, Easter again. \nRef: Vemkar.us \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/new-renewal-sunday-2-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Renewal2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270407
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270408
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20250520T035336Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T035559Z
UID:29346-1807056000-1807142399@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Annunciation to the Virgin Mary
DESCRIPTION:  \nOn April 7\, the Armenian Church celebrates one of her greatest feasts: the Annunciation to St Mary. In the Gospel of Luke we learn that the Angel Gabriel brings the good news to the Virgin about the birth of the Saviour (Lk 1:26-38). \nAccording to Holy Tradition and the Evangelist\, the Angel Gabriel appears to St. Mary while reading a passage from the prophecy of Isaiah\, in which it is written about the birth of the Emmanuel from a Virgin. The Angel greets Mary\, telling her\, “Fear not\, Mary: for you have found favour with God. And behold\, you shall conceive in your womb\, and bring forth a son\, and shall call His Name JESUS.” \nThe Angel Gabriel further explains to Mary\, “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you\, and the Power of the Highest shall overshadow you\, therefore also that which is Holy which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God.” St Mary could foresee the torments and sufferings that she would endure. However\, by giving mankind an excellent example of obedience to the Divine Will\, she said\, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it happen to me as you have said.” Beginning from the moment when the Holy Virgin expressed these words\, she was with child. \nThis Gospel story is one expression of why the Armenian Church accords high honour to motherhood\, and appreciates the role of women in family life and the lives of mankind. \nUpon the Pontifical order of His Holiness Karekin II\, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians\, the Feast of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary is proclaimed as a day of “Blessing of Motherhood and Beauty”. On this day\, a special blessing service is conducted in the Armenian Churches.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/annunciation-to-the-virgin-mary-3-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Annunciation.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270411
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270412
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211023T081949Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T064320Z
UID:29518-1807401600-1807487999@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Sunday of the World Church (Green Sunday)
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe second Sunday of Easter commemorates Sunday of the World Church (Ashkharhamadoor)\, the first Church of Jerusalem\, established by Christ. \nOn the first day of the Jewish festival of Passover\, Jesus instructs two of the Apostles\, Peter and John\, to go into Jerusalem and meet a man\, who would direct them to a house where Christ and His Apostles could celebrate the Passover Feast. Peter and John are led to the “Upper Room” of a house\, where they make the necessary preparations for the meal. Later that evening\, Christ and the Twelve Apostles sit together to eat supper. This “Last Supper” was the event where Jesus Christ established the Sacrament of Holy Communion\, which we celebrate every Sunday during the Divine Liturgy in Armenian Churches throughout the world. The Upper Room in Jerusalem is considered to be the first Church\, as founded by Christ. \nThe Sunday of the World Church is also called “Green” Sunday\, which most probably originates from an ancient holiday celebrating spring. Our forefathers\, seeing mother earth bloom after long winter months\, glorified the Creator with an act of thanksgiving and celebrated by decorating the church and themselves with greenery. The reawakening of nature is symbolic of the Resurrection. Green is the colour of life\, freshness\, and promise. After a barren winter and with the Resurrection we are filled with hope\, life and love. \nGreen Sunday is the perfect time for us to remember and strengthen our obligations as good stewards of the earth and caretakers of the gifts given to us by God.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/sunday-of-the-world-church-green-sunday-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/World-Church-passover.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270418
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270419
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211023T084326Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T065434Z
UID:29532-1808006400-1808092799@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Red Sunday
DESCRIPTION:  \nAlthough there seems to be no ecclesiastical origin or significance for Red Sunday\, the colour red recalls numerous themes within Christianity and the tradition of the Armenian Church. It is the blood of Jesus Christ that redeems and heals us\, the source of life which spilled into the ground from the Cross to give life and salvation to the entire created order. \nThe colour red also recalls the blood of the Church martyrs: those who follow the pattern of Jesus\, those men and women who demonstrated valiant faith\, unafraid to die for Jesus Christ\, confident in his words and promise to raise to new life for those who know and follow him.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/red-sunday-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Blood-of-martyrs.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270425
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270426
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211023T085319Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T072540Z
UID:29546-1808611200-1808697599@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Feast of the Apparition of the Holy Cross
DESCRIPTION:  \nThis feast is celebrated 28 days after Easter Sunday and is dedicated to the Apparition of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. At noon on May 19\, 351AD\, a bright\, luminous cross appeared over the skies of Jerusalem\, centred over an area spanning from the Mount of Olives (where Christ was betrayed and arrested) to Golgotha (where Christ was crucified). Bishop Cyril (later St. Cyril of Jerusalem) subsequently wrote a letter to Emperor Constantine of Byzantium wherein he describes the miraculous and beautiful scene. St. Cyril tells Constantine that the apparition is a true testimony of the Orthodox faith of Christianity. Further\, St Cyril exhorts the Emperor that the appearance is a sign for him to remain steadfast in his faith and to stop defending the heretical movement of Arianism (Arianism holds that the Son is distinct from the Father and therefore subordinate to Him) and its lawmakers. \nThe Armenian translation of the Bishop’s letter has been preserved by the Church and is read each year on the Feast of the Apparition of the Holy Cross.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/feast-of-the-apparition-of-the-holy-cross-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/apparition-cross.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270506
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270507
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211023T090611Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T073758Z
UID:29560-1809561600-1809647999@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Hampartsoum: Feast of Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Feast of Holy Ascension marks the ascent of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven on the 40th day following His glorious Resurrection. The timing is clearly specified in the Acts of the Apostles\, where it is stated that Christ presented himself alive to the Apostles\, “appearing to them during forty days and speaking of the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). \nOn the 40th day\, after he finished speaking to the Apostles\, “as they were looking on\, he was lifted up\, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:9).  The Gospel according to Mark sums up the same story as follows: “So then the Lord Jesus\, after he had spoken to them\, was taken up into heaven\, and sat down at the right hand of God” (Mark 16: 19). The same account is also in the Gospel according to Luke: “While he blessed them\, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven” (Luke 24:51).  There are also several references to this event in some of the other books of the New Testament. \nThe Feast of the Ascension is an important Dominical feast (one relating to the life of Jesus Christ) that has been celebrated in the universal church since ancient times.  Modern scholarship traces its earliest observance to the 4th century. \nIt is always celebrated on the 40th day after Easter and falls on a Thursday; however\, in the Armenian Church\, the observance of the feast begins on Wednesday evening during vespers. \nFrom ancient tradition\, we know that the Ascension of the Lord took place on the Mount of Olives.  To this day the Armenian Brotherhood of St. James in Jerusalem holds vesper service and a vigil on the eve of the Feast of the Ascension at the sanctuary on the Mount of Olives. \nBesides being a Dominical feast (see below)\, the Ascension also marks the anniversary of the reestablishment of the Holy See at the monastery of Holy Etchmiadzin in 1441\, after a separation of almost 1\,000 years. \nAs with other feasts\, Ascension and the Resurrection of the Lord are celebrated over the following nine days until Pentecost. \nDominical Feasts are connected to Christ’s mission of redemption as well as feasts dedicated to the Holy Mother of God\, the Holy Cross and Holy Church.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/feast-of-ascension-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hampartsoum-e1634979554579.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270509
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270510
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211023T092455Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T074346Z
UID:29573-1809820800-1809907199@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Second Palm Sunday
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe 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. \nAccording 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. \nSt 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. \nThis dialogue of angels is presented in the Holy Bible as follows: \n“Lift up your heads\, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up\, ye everlasting doors; \nand the King of glory shall come in.”\n“Who is this King of glory?  The LORD strong and mighty\, the LORD mighty in\nbattle.”\n“Lift up your heads\, O ye gates; even lift them up\, ye everlasting doors; \nand the King of glory shall come in.”\n“Who is this King of glory?”\n“The LORD of hosts\, he is the King of glory.”\n (Psalms 24:7-10) \nThis beautiful angelic dialogue is heard during the Divine Liturgy\, as the deacon approaches the celebrant priest with the chalice during the Great Entrance (Verapehroom). \nSecond 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. \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/second-palm-sunday-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Jesus-heaven.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270516
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270517
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211023T093159Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T074940Z
UID:29586-1810425600-1810511999@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:The Feast of Pentecost: Hokekaloust
DESCRIPTION:  \n“When the day of Pentecost came\, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:1-4).\n\nOn the day of Pentecost (Hokekaloust)\, tongues of fire filled the upper room resting upon the heads of Jesus’ disciples who had gathered together as had been instructed. In this dramatic scene\, the disciples felt the Holy Spirit descend upon them as they began speaking in other languages and could be understood by a crowd of believers from other nations.\n\nWith the tongues of fire came the ability for the spread of Christianity to other nations which would soon reach the land of Armenia by the Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew. This would become the birth of the Armenian Church and the nation’s religion. \nTongues symbolise God’s purifying presence which burns away the undesirable elements of our lives and sets our hearts aflame to ignite the lives of others. \nThe coming of the Holy Spirit (or Hokekaloust in Armenian) is celebrated by the Armenian Church\, as in all Christian churches\, 50 days after Easter. \nAs possessors of this beautiful faith\, Pentecost points us to our personal Pentecost\, for just as the Holy Spirit came to the Apostles\, so too does the Holy Spirit come to each one of us at the time of our chrismation or confirmation with the anointing of the Holy Oil. As baptised infants\, if we are open to that gift\, it transforms us and inspires us to live a Christ centred existence\, in which the fruits of the Spirit — love\, joy\, peace\, patience\, kindness\, goodness\, faithfulness\, gentleness and self-control — can grow and thrive. \nBut the fruit of the Spirit is love\, joy\, peace\, forbearance\, kindness\, goodness\, faithfulness\,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. \n(Galatians 5:22-23)
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/the-feast-of-pentecost-hokekaloust-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Pentecost.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270523
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270524
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211023T095043Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T075621Z
UID:29599-1811030400-1811116799@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of the Prophet Elijah
DESCRIPTION:  \nWelcome the Stranger: Elijah \nHe was a man of holiness and generosity; but also a man who could countenance the cruelest violence. His very name confessed his loyalty to God; but also prefigured the loneliness that can follow any man with such loyalties. He was Elijah the Tishbite\, Elijah “the Stranger”: the Hebrew prophet the Armenian Church remembers the Sunday following the Feast of Pentecost. \nAs the “model” prophet\, Elijah cuts a gigantic figure in the Old Testament\, with his name and influence echoing through the New. He even makes a personal appearance in the Gospel\, alongside Christ and Moses\, during the cosmic vision of the Transfiguration. \nBut he was truly an isolated figure in his day: a friend of God in an age when all his countrymen (so it seemed) had abandoned their holy heritage; when a profane ruling class had infected the people with the spirit killing disease of idolatry. \nElijah was a severe opponent of the pagan cults imported into the court of the Israelite King Ahab\, and his early prophetic career was marked by divine signs and miracles. But at the very moment of his vindication; his extravagant triumph over the pagan idols\, leading to the horrifying slaughter of their priesthood\, Elijah’s fortunes turned. \nA public vendetta against him by the infamous Queen Jezebel sent Elijah into hiding. In fear for his life\, he scaled the mountain where Moses had once received the Ten Commandments\, to stand in the presence of his God. A hurricane wind\, a mighty earthquake\, a blazing fire all passed before him. But God (Scripture assures us) inhabited none of these. \nOnly a “still\, small voice”\, a gentle whisper in Elijah’s hearing—was recognisable as the sign of God’s presence. And the Voice asked the prophet\, “What are you doing here\, Elijah?” \nWeary in body and spirit\, Elijah could only answer as one who had given his all\, in a lost cause. “I have been your champion\, Lord\,” he said. “But the people have rejected your covenant\, torn down your altars\, put your prophets to the sword. I am the only one left. And now they want to kill me too.” Earlier he had dared to utter a prayer of even deeper bitterness\, “I have had enough\, Lord. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” \nBut God’s reply to the prophet’s spiritual exhaustion was a miracle of mercy and simplicity. He gave Elijah a human companion to share his burdens. The young plowman Elisha would be the chosen disciple for Elijah to instruct; the “son” who would carry the prophet’s mantle in the next generation\, extending Elijah’s achievements\, and perhaps correcting his mistakes. \nThere would be further adventures for the prophet with no respite from the hardships of his vocation. But after the experience on the mountain\, Elijah’s heart was eased enough to permit him to peacefully depart this world\, which he did in the most dramatic way imaginable: carried away to heaven in a chariot of fire. \nBut his story doesn’t end there. Subsequent generations\, reflecting on his mysterious departure\, insisted that Elijah would one day return\, as a herald of the Messiah. The preaching style of John the Baptist so closely resembled Elijah’s that observers of the day thought the two might be one and the same. Though John directly disabused people of that notion\, Jesus attested that John was indeed the spiritual successor to Elijah\, who had come to announce Christ’s advent. \nArmenian spirituality holds that Elijah never actually died. Our haunting Requiem hymn paints a word picture of the “Supernal Jerusalem” (Ee verinn Yerousaghem) where Elijah still lives in vastly advanced old age\, alongside the antediluvian (before the flood) Patriarch Enoch. The inscrutable classical Armenian word aghavnagerb (usually translated as “dove-like”) describes their present state\, offering us a dim glimpse into what it might be like to live as an immortal resident of God’s heavenly city. \nThe story of Elijah “the Stranger” is told in the Books of Kings (1 Kings 17 -2 Kings 2)\, with its uncanny sequels related in the gospels and our liturgy. In preparation for his remembrance\, welcome “The Stranger” into your heart. \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-the-prophet-elijah-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Elijah-770x330.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270524
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270525
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211023T104339Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T080117Z
UID:29612-1811116800-1811203199@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of St Hripsime and her Companions
DESCRIPTION:  \nSt Hripsime\, along with her companions in martyrdom\, are venerated as the first martyrs in Armenian history. \nNoble Hripsime was one of the 37 Christian nuns who\, together with the Abyss Gayane\, lived during the period of the reign of the Roman King Diocletianus (284-305) in the Monastery of St Paul located in the mountains of Rome. The Holy sisters had dedicated their lives to Christ. \nHripsime’s beauty captivated the King who wished to get married to her. Disobeying the King\, the pious nuns\, led by their Abyss Gayane\, ran away. According to oral traditions\, a Holy Godmother appeared to them and told them to leave for the Araratian country; Armenia. So\, the nuns went to Vagharshapat. On their way\, they passed the Mountain of Varague (Varak). Here\, Hripsime buried in the earth a relic from the wooden Holy Cross\, which she always had on her neck. The relic was found by a miracle in the 7th century and since then\, the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varague (Varak) has been celebrated in the Calendar of the Armenian Apostolic Church\, along with the other feasts dedicated to the Holy Cross. \nThe Pagan Armenian King Tiridates III (Drtad/ Trdat)\, becoming aware of the nun’s beauty\, also wished to get married to Hripsime. Accordingly\, Hripsime was brought to the palace\, with Gayane\, in order to convince Hripsime to obey the King. However\, Gayane told Hripsime to hold true to her faith and in his anger\, Tiridates ordered that all the nuns be killed. \nIn this storm of destruction\, King Tiridates became afflicted with strange maladies\, and no physician or pagan priest could heal him. It was only St. Gregory\, who the King had condemned to the pit in 287AD\, that was able to restore Tiridates\, through the power of prayer and faith. \nThe nuns’ martyrdom is a turning point in the history of the Armenian nation. After their martyrdom\, St Gregory was released from the pit and was able to spread the light of Christ in Armenia. \nUpon his delivery from the pit\, in the early 4th century\, St Gregory the Illuminator found the relics of the nuns and built chapels on those sites. Later\, during the time of St Sahak Partev (Bartev)\, these chapels were rebuilt and then again\, during the pontificate of Catholicos Gomidas (7th century)\, two beautiful cathedrals were erected. One of these\, the Cathedral of St Hripsime\, remains a monument of Armenian architecture. \nIn 1979 His Holiness Vasken I\, the Catholicos of All Armenians\, reported joyously to His Holiness Khoren I\, the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia\, at Antelias\, that as a result of recent archaeological excavations firmly sealed graves were found and thought to be those of the witnesses\, Hripsime and her companions. \nHis Holiness Vasken I wrote: “It is with deep emotion that we wish to inform you that the ancient tomb\, discovered during the past year under the walls of the St. Hripsime monastery\, has disclosed graves of interred bodies without heads. It is highly probable that those remains are those of some of the maidens.” Because of the indication of how the bodies had been severed\, the direction in which they were buried\, and the absence of pagan like burial practices\, the archaeologists were able to confirm the authenticity of Hripsime and her followers’ relics at the site. \nIt is said that Hripsime was tortured and martyred at the location of Saint Hripsime Church\, while Gayane was tortured and martyred at the site of St Gayane church. The remaining group of unnamed nuns were martyred at the location of Shoghakat Church. \nIn the Armenian Apostolic Church\, on the days of the feasts dedicated to the memory of St Hripsime and her companions\, a Divine Liturgy is celebrated in all Armenian Churches. On the eve of the feast\, ceremonies are held\, which start after the evening service and Church hymns and songs\, dedicated to the nuns\, are sung.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-st-hripsime-and-her-companions-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Hripsime.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270525
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270526
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211023T111443Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T080739Z
UID:29627-1811203200-1811289599@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of St Gayane and her Companions
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Commemoration of St Gayane takes place on the day following the Commemoration of St Hripsime. \nSt Gayane\, the abbess and St Hripsime\, along with their companions\, remind us of the central role of strong\, determined\, faithful women at the root of Armenian Christianity. While the recounting of the conversion to Christianity usually centres on King Tiridates (Drtad) and St Gregory the Illuminator\, St Gayane and St Hripsime’s actions start the whole narrative of the conversion of Armenia. \nAfter Hripsime bests and embarrasses King Tiridates III\, the king tries to force Gayane to convince her protegee to give herself over to the king. Instead\, Gayane encourages Hripsime to keep her vows and reminds her of the eternal reward Christ promised to all those who believe in Him. When the king realises the conviction of both women\, he has them and all their companion nuns killed. \nSt Hripsime\, St Gayane and their companions become some of the earliest martyrs of the Armenian Church and some of the earliest saints. It is this violent action on the part of the king that leads to his illness and at his sister Khosrovitoukht’s urging\, the king finally appeals to St Gregory to heal him\, leading to the king’s conversion to Christianity and his declaration that Armenia will be a Christian kingdom. \nWithout the valiant martyrdom of St Gayane and St Hripsime\, or the faithful encouragement of Khosrovitoukht\, all women\, the conversion of Armenia would never have happened. \nIt is worth noting here that the very first “native” saint and martyr of the Armenian Church was also a woman\, St Santukht. \nPlaying such a crucial role in the conversion of Armenia\, standing right at the source of Christianity in Armenia\, St Gayane\, St Hripsime and their companions have inspired Armenians for centuries. They are an important source and inspiration for women involved in the Armenian Apostolic Church. As an abbess\, St Gayane is the precursor to all women monastics and ordained women in the Armenian Apostolic Church. In the twenty first century we often feel the scarcity of women engaged in active ministry in the Armenian Church. However\, there is a long tradition of Armenian nuns and female monastics. Likewise\, while there are only a few ordained women deacons\, deaconesses\, around the world today\, in certain times and places\, Istanbul\, Tiflis\, and Isfahan in particular\, Armenian women were ordained to the order of the diaconate. Most often\, this took place in the context of a monastery or a monastic order. Ultimately\, all Armenian deaconesses\, women monastics and women serving the Armenian Church have as a source of inspiration and a model St Gayane and St Hripsime. \nThese two women\, their companions and the story of their intense faith in Jesus Christ and the strength afforded them through the Holy Spirit\, have inspired both men and women to commemorate them. After their martyrdom there was an early tradition that placed their burial sites in the city of Vagharshapat\, most commonly known as Etchmiadzin\, after the mother Cathedral. These shrines were eventually built up and today the two churches of St Gayane and St Hripsime both stand in the city of Vagharshapat as some of the oldest standing Armenian churches in the world. Notably\, Catholicos Komitas I\, known both for his building projects and his hymns\, was behind the project to build the church dedicated to St Hripsime. Dedicated in 618\, Catholicos Komitas I also composed a celebrated hymn\, Andzink Nviryalk\, or “Devoted Persons\,” to commemorate the dedication of the church. The hymn is sung as the Orhnutyun Sharagan the morning of the commemoration of St. Hripsime. \nRef: vemkar.us
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-st-gayane-and-her-companions-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270527
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270528
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211023T112533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T081645Z
UID:29640-1811376000-1811462399@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of St John the Baptist (the Forerunner) and Bishop Atanagine
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Armenian Church commemorates the day when the relics of St John the Forerunner (the Baptist) and Bishop Atanagine were transferred to Armenia. \nMariam\, the wife of St Gregory the Illuminator\, had a brother named Atanagine. He was the Bishop of Pitacton and died while defending the faith. After his consecration in Caesarea\, St Gregory brought the relics of St John and Bishop Atanagine to Armenia and buried them in locations named Innaknya and Bagavan\, in the region of Ashtishat and built martyriums (shrines) at those sites. \nAfter baptising King Tiridates and the royal court in 301 AD\, St Gregory the Illuminator celebrated the Divine Liturgy and gave instructions that the memories of St John and Bishop Atanagine should be commemorated on that specific day\, every year\, instead of the feast of Vanatour\, which was the pagan god of the New Year.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-st-john-the-baptist-the-forerunner-and-bishop-atanagine-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270529
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270530
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211023T114254Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T082253Z
UID:29653-1811548800-1811635199@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Feast of St Gregory the Illuminator’s deliverance from the pit
DESCRIPTION:  \n\n\n\n\nThe Feast of St Gregory the Illuminator’s deliverance from the pit is also known as Khor Viraben Yelkuh. Gregory is revered as the patron saint of the Armenian Church. He is recognised and memorialided in both eastern and western hierarchical churches. The Armenian liturgical calendar reserves three feast days in his honour: Entrance into the pit; deliverance from the pit and the discovery of the relics. In addition to these three days\, there are several feast days to which he is closely connected\, namely the feast days for Saints Hripsime and Gayane\, Shoghakat\, Holy Etchmiadzin and King Tiridates (Trdat). The Roman Catholic Church\, Orthodox churches\, and Oriental Orthodox churches have special days in their calendars for the veneration of St Gregory\, who is considered to be one of the Fathers of the early Christian church. \nSt Gregory was condemned to the pit in 287 AD by King Tiridates III which preceded the persecution of Christians. After the martyrdom of a group of nuns who came to Armenia from Rome\, led by Hripsime and Gayane\, Tiridates was stricken with strange maladies. His sister\, Khosrovitoukht\, had a dream that St Gregory was the only person who could heal her brother. Miraculously\, Gregory was still alive after many years in the pit\, thanks to the daily visits of an angel. Gregory emerged from the pit and with the intercession of his prayers\, the king recovered and was thus baptised as Tiridates III declared Christianity to be the official religion of Armenia in 301AD. \nSt Gregory became the patron saint of the Armenian Church and Tiridates and his wife\, Queen Ashkhen\, became ardent supporters in Gregory’s efforts to preach Christianity throughout Armenia and baptise the Armenian nation. \nSt Gregory was not the first to preach Christianity in Armenia. That distinction belongs to the apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew\, who came to Armenia in the first century\, and thus gave the Armenian Church its Apostolic designation. Nevertheless\, Gregory is revered and is considered by Armenians to be the father of their faith. Hundreds of churches have been built and named in his honour. \n“The ancient calendars of the still undivided Church celebrated him [Gregory] on the same day in both the East and the West as a tireless apostle of truth and holiness. The father in faith of the whole Armenian people\, St Gregory still intercedes from heaven today\, so that all the children of your great nation may at last gather round the one table prepared by Christ\, the divine Shepherd of one flock.” \nPope John Paul II in his “Apostolic Letter for the 1700th Anniversary of the Baptism of the Armenian People\,” issued February 2\, 2001.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/feast-of-st-gregory-the-illuminators-deliverance-from-the-pit-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270530
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270531
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211023T115444Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T082904Z
UID:29666-1811635200-1811721599@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Feast of the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin
DESCRIPTION:  \nOne of the most celebrated feasts of the Armenian Church is the day when the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin was established\, according to the inspired vision of St Gregory the Illuminator. \nAccording to hagiographic sources\, following the declaration of Christianity as the Official Religion of Armenia in 301 AD\, St Gregory had a famous vision\, wherein the Only Begotten Son of God\, Jesus Christ\, descended from Heaven\, his face lit aglow and with the strike of a golden hammer designated the site where the Mother Cathedral for the entire Armenian nation was to be founded. Hence\, the name of the spiritual centre for the Armenians\, “Etchmiadzin”\, means “the Descent of the Only Begotten” (Etch – descent\, mi – only\, dzin – begotten.) \nSt Gregory relayed the story about his vision to the Armenian King Tiridates III (Drtad)\, under whose royal auspices and support the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin was built.  King Tiridates and Queen Ashkhen participated in the construction\, as did the entire capital city of Vagharshapat\, by bringing stones from the biblical mountain of Ararat to lay the foundations. In the site marked by Christ\, a Holy Altar of Descent was built. \nAccording to Patriarch Malachia Ormanian\, from the days of her establishment\, the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin has been the residence of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.  Thus\, it is the Mother See of the Armenian Church and\, as such\, her universal\, spiritual and administrative headquarters. \nAnother title bestowed upon the cathedral is “Catholic”\, not to be confused with the Roman Catholic faith.  Catholic is a Greek word meaning “Universal”. Theologically\, the cathedral has been called “catholic” as a description of the catholicity (universality) of the Church. \nThe feast of the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin is celebrated 64 days following Easter.  A Divine Liturgy is celebrated and during services\, a special hymn is sung\, written by the eighth century Catholicos Sahak of Dzorap\, telling of St Gregory’s vision and the Cathedral’s construction.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/feast-of-the-cathedral-of-holy-etchmiadzin-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Etchmiadzin.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270601
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20250520T084109Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T084236Z
UID:29679-1811721600-1811807999@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of the Children of Bethlehem\, Acacius the Witness\, Movkima the Priest and Kotriatos the Soldier
DESCRIPTION:  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n\n\n\nIn the Gospel according to St. Matthew\, we read about the slaying of the innocent children prior to the birth of Jesus Christ (Matthew 2:16-18). Men\, who had come from the East to Jerusalem\, spread the news of the birth of a “baby born to be the king of the Jews”. When this news reached Heron\, King of Judea\, he became very troubled. As a result of his jealousy and rage in not being able to locate the newborn baby\, the King orders the death of all male children in Bethlehem who are two years old and younger. The blood of the innocent children became the first blood shed for the sake of Christ. The Armenian Church has dedicated many church hymns and songs to the memory of the Children of Bethlehem\, and they are commemorated on the Monday following the Feast of the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. \nThe same day the Armenian Church celebrates the memory of three saints\, martyred for the sake of Christianity – Acacius the Witness\, Movkima the Priest and Kotriatos the Soldier.According to “Haysmavourk”\, Acacius was martyred for the faith during the reign of the Emperor Likianos.  Being subjected to indescribable torments and managing to survive surrounded by wild beasts\, the saint was beheaded in 310 AD. \nMovkima the Priest\, Byzantine by birth\, was the son of a high-ranking Christian officer. Being a devout preacher of Christianity\, he was subjected to many torments by the governor of the city Ampipolis of Macedonia. Later\, he was sent to Byzantium\, where he was condemned to death by beheading. Emperor Constantine would later build a magnificent church over the tomb of the saint. \nKotriatos the Soldier was martyred as a result of persecutions by the pagan King Dekos. Considering himself to be a “servant of the Heavenly King”\, the brave saint endured many tortures through the strength of his Christian faith and became an example for others to remain steadfast in times of trouble. Kotriatos was also put to death by beheading. \n  \n\n\n\n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-the-children-of-bethlehem-acacius-the-witness-movkima-the-priest-and-kotriatos-the-soldier-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270601
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270602
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211024T040254Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T084856Z
UID:29692-1811808000-1811894399@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of St Nune and St Mane
DESCRIPTION:  \nSt Nune and St Mane were two of the companions of St Hripsime\, who\, being persecuted by the King Dioklethianos\, left Rome with the Abbess Gayane and her order of nuns\, and reached Armenia where she was martyred. However\, Nune and Mane were not destined to die together with their companions. \nReaching Armenia together with Abbess Gayane and her companions\, St Mane left them and went to the area of Mount Sebouh\, where she remained isolated in a cave and lived an ascetic life. St Mane lived an “angel’s life”\, strengthened by means of prayers and divine consolation\, and later the cave was called by her name\, “Mane’s cave”. \nDuring that same period\, St Gregory the Illuminator\, in his old age\, also wished for solitude and wanted to live his last days in seclusion. He chose a cave on Mount Sebouh\, near Erzindjan.  Approaching the cave\, he heard the voice of the St Mane asking him to return to the cave three days later. Respecting the wishes of the nun\, St Gregory returned to the cave three days later and finding the nun dead\, buried her body in the cave. \nThe nun St Nune (or Nino)\, escaped the persecutions of the Armenian King Tiridates (Drtad) and left for Georgia’s capital city of Mtskheta. There she continued to live a prayerful life and preached the Gospel\, converting the entire nation to Christianity. She became famous for the miracles she worked and for her philanthropic activity. Hearing of her miracles\, Nune was taken to the royal palace\, where she healed the sick queen. Refusing all gifts\, Nune continued preaching the Gospel. The Georgian King Mihran\, feeling the presence of God\, converted to Christianity. The Gospel was preached throughout Georgia. Upon the advice of Nune\, a delegation was sent to the Armenian Pontiff St Gregory the Illuminator and the Armenian King Tiridates asking them to send clergy to perform baptisms and Holy Mass. Thus\, St. Nune became the apostle of Georgia.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-st-nune-and-st-mane-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270605
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270606
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211024T042212Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T085647Z
UID:29705-1812153600-1812239999@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of St Nersess the Great and St Bishop Khad
DESCRIPTION:  \nSt Nersess was an Armenian Catholicos (Patriarch) who lived in the 4th century and was the great grandson of St Gregory the Illuminator. His father\, Athenogenes\, and his uncle\, Bab\, who were next in line for the succession to the Throne of St Gregory\, were laymen and had no desire to become priests. As professional soldiers\, they showed no inclination to spirituality and their worldly behaviour convinced the Armenian bishops that neither of them were suitable for the position of chief bishop. \nTherefore\, the church turned its attention to Nersess\, the son of Athenogenes\, to assume the position. St Nersess had spent his youth in Caesarea where he married Sanducht\, (presumably the daughter of King Diran) and they had a son\, who later became the renowned Catholicos\, St Sahag the Parthian\, grandfather of St Vartan Mamigonian. St Nersess was a courtier and served as chamberlain of King Arshag II. \nHowever\, despite his secular background\, St Nersess was a pious Christian. His connection with St Gregory the Illuminator impressed the royal magnates who held council with the king and they advised the king to persuade St Nersess to become the spiritual leader of Armenia. A humble man by nature\, St Nersess refused their proposal\, feeling unworthy of such an honour. The king dismissed his arguments and insisted that St Nersess immediately be ordained a deacon\, then priest\, and ultimately chief bishop or Catholicos. He was ordained by Archbishop Eusebius of Caesarea in 353 A.D. \nSt Nersess’ patriarchate marked a new era in Armenian history. Previously\, the Church had been identified\, primarily\, with royal family and noblemen; St Nersess now brought the Church into a closer relationship with its people. St Nersess immediately undertook his duties of the chief bishop\, renovating old churches\, founding new ones and tending to the spiritual needs of his flock. In the early days of Christianity in Armenia however\, many of the people were not strong in their Christian practices. To that end\, St Nersess held a council of bishops in Ashdishad and introduced a number of reforms regarding divine worship\, laws on marriage and fast days in order to make the beliefs of the church more uniform. \nSt Nerses also became known for his concern for moral purity and preserving the sanctity of marriage and family life. He built schools and hospitals\, orphanages\, shelters for the poor and the lepers\, and he urged his people to maintain these institutions. Thus\, St Nersess has been described by many as the founder of Christian charity in Armenia and recognised as the clergyman who established the Church’s role as the guardian of the Armenian people in its spiritual\, social and educational aspects. \nAs a leader\, St Nersess also participated in the political life of his country and was among King Arshag’s chief advisors during the period 353-359 AD. Upon Nersess’ initiative\, a National Ecclesiastical Council was convened in Ashtishat in 354 AD. \nHowever\, King Arshag’s adherence to the religious policy (Arianism) of his ally\, the Roman emperor\, a policy which conflicted with St Nersess’ Christian Orthodox beliefs\, eventually necessitated the removal of St Nersess. He was exiled for nine years. When he returned\, King Bab\, Arshag’s son\, reigned. Due to the conflict in their beliefs\, the friction between the King and St Nersess intensified during the next few years. \nThe religious differences\, as well as St Nersess’ condemnation of King Bab’s moral depravity\, are cited as reasons for St Nersess’ sudden\, untimely death. At the king’s order\, St Nersess was poisoned in 373 A.D. He was buried in Til\, near the tomb of his great uncle St Aristakes (Arisdages). A cathedral built over the original grave site was destroyed in the 7th century. While the exact site is unknown\, relics were discovered and distributed in the 13th century between the church in Erzindjan and the nearby village of Kee\, where the Monastery of Dirashen stood. Another monastery near Til\, Chukhdag Hayrabedats\, also claimed to have discovered relics of St Nersess in the second half of the 7th century. \nFor his devout activity\, Nersess the Great is also called the “Illuminator of Hearts”. \nS Nersess is always commemorated with his associate Bishop Khad (Khat). Like Nersess\, Khat\, a native of the village of Marak near Karin (modern Erzurum) was a married man and had two daughters. He had been St Nersess’ pupil and deacon. Ultimately he rose to the rank of bishop and was placed in charge of two districts\, Pakrevant and Arsharunik. Through the marriage of his daughters\, he was associated with the noble Abahuni clan. During St Nersess’ tenure of office\, he was designated as supervisor of the poor and the charitable institutions founded by his mentor. The latter\, in his absence\, entrusted him with the care of church affairs\, officially naming him his vicar. Khat faithfully carried out his ministry. \nLike Nereses\, Khat was also an adamant supporter of orthodoxy against the royal court\, which adhered to the heretical teachings of Arius. For this reason\, he was in conflict with the king\, who tried to bribe him\, to no avail\, since Khat distributed the gifts bestowed on him among the poor. King Arshag had him driven from the royal camp and ordered his men to stone the bishop. He was spared the ordeal of a painful death thanks to his Abahuni clansmen\, related to him through marriage. One of his sons in law\, Asurk\, succeeded to his episcopal rank and office\, presumably after his own wife’s demise. \nKhat is not a martyr\, but his sufferings at the hands of King Arshag make him a confessor. \nBy the Very Rev. Fr. Krikor Maksoudian\, adapted from his volume\, “The Holy Feasts of St. Gregory the Illuminator” (St. Vartan Press\, 2002).
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-st-nersess-the-great-and-st-bishop-khad-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270606
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270607
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211024T033355Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T090405Z
UID:29718-1812240000-1812326399@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Eve of the Fast of St Gregory the Illuminator
DESCRIPTION:  \nThis is the Sunday preceding the week prior to the feast of Discovery of St Gregory the Illuminator’s relics\, in the 5th century. The week long fast lasts from Monday to Friday.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/eve-of-the-fast-of-st-gregory-the-illuminator-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270608
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270609
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211024T053026Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T091009Z
UID:29731-1812412800-1812499199@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of Sts Constantine (Kostandianos) the Emperor and his mother Helen (Helena)
DESCRIPTION:  \nKing Kostandianos (Constantine) was born in the city of Nish\, in the former Yugoslavia. He is one of the most prominent figures of the Roman Empire. It was he who officially released the Church from persecutions lasting more than 250 years and in 313 A.D. By the Encyclical of Milan he proclaimed Christianity to be a permitted religion. It was during the period of his reign that the first Ecumenical Council of 325 A.D. was convened\, which condemned Arius (and Arianism) and adopted the word “Birth” to show that the Holy Son has the same nature as the Holy Father and is God. King Kostandianos supported the construction of magnificent Churches and Cathedrals in the Holy Sites of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. \nKing Kostandianos was also a renowned and successful captain in battle. According to tradition\, before the decisive battle against the imposter\, King Maxentios\, he had the vision of the Holy Cross. With the sign of the Holy Cross he faced the battle and won. King Kostandianos passed away in 337 A.D\, and at death’s door he was baptised according to the Christian rite. \nQueen Helena (Heghineh)\, mother of the King Kostandianos\, supported the king’s pious activity. The discovery of the wooden Holy Cross\, is ascribed to the Queen. In 327AD\, the Queen\, who was in her mid seventies\, set out on a long journey to Jerusalem with the primary intention of finding the actual Cross upon which Jesus Christ had been crucified. Following a series of inquiries\, with the help of a local Jew named Judas in Golgotha (where Christ was crucified)\, the Cross was discovered\, and the authenticity of the relic was tested by a miracle. \nWhen the Cross was unearthed\, two other crosses were found in the same place. Jesus was crucified with two thieves\, and when the three crosses were discovered side by side\, it raised questions about which was the True Cross. Just then\, a funeral procession was passing by. The procession was stopped\, and the corpse of the deceased was placed upon the first cross. Nothing happened. The corpse was then placed upon the second cross. Again\, nothing happened. Finally\, the corpse was placed upon the third cross which happened to be the True Cross. Immediately\, the deceased came back to life having touched the very wood upon which Jesus had been crucified. \nAfter that miracle\, Judas Cyriacus is converted to Christianity and later becomes a bishop of Jerusalem. After the discovery of the Holy Cross\, Heghineh renovated the Holy Places of Jerusalem and built the Church of Holy Resurrection of Golgotha\, where later the Lord’s cross was installed. \nQueen Heghineh (Helena) passed away in 330 A.D.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-sts-constantine-kostandianos-the-emperor-and-his-mother-helen-helena-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270612
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270613
DTSTAMP:20260421T035910
CREATED:20211023T222956Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T091613Z
UID:29744-1812758400-1812844799@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration Day of the Discovery of the Relics of St Gregory the Illuminator
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe relics of St Gregory the Illuminator (Lousavorich) are one of our most revered within the Armenian Church\, as well as all Christian Churches. \nThe discovery of the relics of St Gregory the Illuminator is one of the three significant feast days dedicated to the memory of the Patron Saint of Armenia and the impact of the holy father on the foundation of that which has become our National Church. \nAs St Gregory grew old and became more involved in solitary life\, King Tiridates III (Drtad) asked him to ordain Gregory’s younger son Arisdagés\, a bishop\, and to take him on as his assistant. Gregory had already retired by 325AD\, when the Holy Council of Nicea took place\, and thus he sent his son Arisdagés in his place to participate in this first ecumenical gathering of bishops of the Christian Church. In his retired state\, however\, Gregory continued his pastoral work by preaching and writing homilies\, employing a simple language so that people could understand. \nAccording to Holy Tradition\, following Armenia’s conversion to Christianity\, in his final years\, St Gregory led an ascetic life in the cave of Mane. The “Caves of Mane” were located on a mountain named Sebouh\, near Erzindjan (now in Eastern Turkey)\, where he died.  This place had previously been the residence of the Virgin Mané\, one of St Hripsime’s companions. It is unclear how long St Gregory lived there and when exactly he died. Shepherds found his body and buried him beneath a pile of stones\, not recognising the Armenian Pontiff. The St Krikor the Illuminator or Medz Lousavorich Monastery was founded on this site in the fifth century. \nDuring the fifth century\, a hermit named Karnig of Basen was guided by a vision to the grave of the saint and discovered his relics. It was customary in those days to distribute relics of saints to various churches in different parts\, and most probably\, the same practice was implemented in St Gregory’s case. Karnig took the body of the saint to the village of Tortan\, in the province of Daranagh\, located to the east of Mount Sebouh\, and buried some of the relics there; the rest were taken elsewhere. At some point\, on or near St Gregory’s unmarked grave\, a church was built\, which is now known as The Holy Saviour Monastery of Tortan (Grave of the Nine Saints).  The exact site of St Gregory’s grave in Tortan was not known\, even to visitors in the tenth century; but nine other graves existed inside the church and were said to belong to King Tiridates\, his queen Askhen\, his sister Khosrovitoukht and other members of St Gregory’s family. The church has been abandoned since the events of 1915. \nHoly Relics \nThe remaining relics of St Gregory were later taken to the Monastery of St John the Baptist in Pakavan (Bagavan)\, where St Gregory had baptised King Tiridates and the Armenian people in the Aradzani River. The relics were kept in a box and taken out on important occasions. In 450 AD\, a rumour arose in Armenia that St Vartan and the Armenian wealthy and influentials had accepted the Persian religion during their visit to Persia’s royal court. On returning\, they were met by a gathering of priests\, noblemen and common people who held forth the box of St Gregory’s relics as a reminder of their Christian roots. Similar incidents occurred at times of turmoil and joy. \nThe relics of St Gregory were later taken and laid beneath the massive columns of the Holy Zvartnots Church\, whose ruins are still visible near the airport of Yerevan. The saint’s skull was kept separately in a box. At some point the skull was transferred to the West and is now kept in the church of St Gregory the Armenian in Naples\, Italy. Recently\, some other relics of St Gregory\, deposited in Naples\, were recently transferred to the Armenian Church by the Roman Catholic Church\, as a tribute to the 1700th anniversary of Armenia’s conversion to Christianity. \nToday\, relics of St Gregory may be found at Holy Etchmiadzin\, Holy Jerusalem and Antilias. The relic at Holy Etchmiadzin\, encased in an arm shaped reliquary\, is used to bless the Holy Chrism (Muron) once every seven years. It is on display in the treasury of the Holy See. \nIn the calendar of the Armenian Church\, the discovery of the relics of St Gregory is an important feast and is commemorated on the Saturday before the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost. \nRef: Very Rev. Fr. Krikor Maskoudian\, adapted from his book “The Holy Feasts of Saint Gregory the Illuminator: Celebrating the Life & Lineage of Armenia’s Patron Saint” (2003). \nClick here for further information on the Churches and Monasteries of Erzindjan.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-day-of-the-discovery-of-the-relics-of-st-gregory-the-illuminator-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VCALENDAR