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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240120
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240121
DTSTAMP:20260504T101503
CREATED:20211022T053821Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211023T002901Z
UID:20175-1705708800-1705795199@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/
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:20240118
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240119
DTSTAMP:20260504T101503
CREATED:20211101T053423Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211101T053507Z
UID:21252-1705536000-1705622399@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of St Anton (Anthony) the Hermit
DESCRIPTION:  \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”.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-st-anton-anthony-the-hermit-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:20240115
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240116
DTSTAMP:20260504T101503
CREATED:20211015T063537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240114T062757Z
UID:20242-1705276800-1705363199@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/
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:20240113
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240114
DTSTAMP:20260504T101503
CREATED:20211015T062954Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211020T075852Z
UID:20101-1705104000-1705190399@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/
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:20240105
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240106
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211012T041857Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220108T064524Z
UID:21159-1704412800-1704499199@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/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240101
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240102
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211009T063959Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220108T064124Z
UID:20029-1704067200-1704153599@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/
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:20231229
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231230
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211011T234959Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211228T023005Z
UID:21149-1703808000-1703894399@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Eve of the Fast of the Nativity and Theophany
DESCRIPTION:  \nEve of the Fast of Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Fast of Christmas)\n\nThe Eve of the Fast of Christmas is always celebrated on December 29\, that is seven (7) days before the Feast of Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Christmas). The Fast of Christmas ends on 5 January\, on the eve of the Feast of Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/eve-of-the-fast-of-christmas-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Eve-of-the-Fast-3.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231228
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231229
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211011T234532Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211029T032709Z
UID:21142-1703721600-1703807999@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of the Apostle St James and Evangelist St John
DESCRIPTION:  \nSt James was the son of the fisherman Zebedee\, the senior brother of the Evangelist St John. He was one of the closest and most reliable disciples of Jesus and the witness of the important events related to Jesus. \nWhen Samaritans refused to receive Christ\, James and his brother asked Jesus to send fire down on the people\, as prophet Elijah did. Jesus reproached them for their groundless behavior. Because of such events Jesus called them “Boanerges\, that is\, sons of thunder” (See Mk 3:17). James is the only apostle about whose death is told in the “Acts of the Apostles”. Herod arrested James and stabbed him. \nThe name of this apostle is closely related to the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. According to Armenian  tradition\, the head of St James was brought to James\, brother of Jesus\, who buried it in the garden of his house. Later the Cathedral of St James was built in that same place. On the northern wall of the chapel\, the tomb of the apostle’s head is shown. \nEvangelist St John is the author of the fourth Gospel\, three letters and the Revelation. He deserved the title of the “beloved disciple” of Christ. Jesus loved and trusted him so much that at the moment of crucifixion asked him to take care of the Holy Mother of God. He passed away in 100 AD\, in Ephesus\, at the age of 95.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-the-apostle-st-james-and-evangelist-st-john-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/jesus-james-john.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231226
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231227
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211011T233914Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211020T081936Z
UID:20128-1703548800-1703635199@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of the Apostles St Peter and St Paul
DESCRIPTION:  \nSt. Peter was one of the 12 apostles of Christ. He was the brother of Andrew. He was one of the beloved apostles of Jesus and the witness of Our Lord’s Transfiguration and the other important events related to Jesus. Peter was a fisherman. His name given during the circumcision was Shmavon\, or Simon (in Greek). We hear of Simon for the first time as written in the Gospel according to John\, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter) (Jn 1:42). Peter was born in the village Bethsaida and later was moved to the town of Capernaum where Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law. Peter is more famous from the part of the Gospel when he said that Christ was the Son of the living God. And Jesus stated that being the Saviour of the world and the Son of God\, He would build His Church (See Mt 16:15-19). \nDuring the night when Jesus was arrested Peter denied Jesus thrice and later deeply regretted this deed. After the Pentecost it was Peter that explained to the people assembled what had happened and spoke about the Incarnated Jesus. One of the important deeds of Peter was bringing the heathens to the church. Peter was arrested by King Herod but escaped the prison by a miracle. \nAccording to tradition Peter was martyred in Rome and was crucified head-down. Two letters from Peter have been preserved. \nSt. Paul is the thirteenth Apostle of Our Lord Jesus Christ. He was born in the town Tarsus of Cilicia in the beginning of the first century. His parents were citizens of Rome who according to Heronimus had came from Galilee. First he studied in his native town and then he continued his education in Jerusalem\, where his teacher was Gamaliel. Paul was a tent maker by trade and this circumstance often helped him during the trips\, when he earned his living by means of making tents. According to his own words\, Paul had been a Pharisee\, had strictly obeyed the law and persecuted the Christians. However\, on his way to Damascus\, Jesus appeared to Paul\, after which Apostle Paul (whose name was initially Saul) became one of the greatest preachers of Christ’s commandments. He was baptised by the apostle Ananias. He made several trips and preached the word of God. Fourteen letters from Paul have been preserved. \nAccording to the tradition Paul was beheaded in 67 AD in Rome.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-the-apostles-st-peter-and-st-paul-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231225
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231226
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211011T233406Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231204T044924Z
UID:24065-1703462400-1703548799@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of St Stephen the Protomartyr and the First Martyr
DESCRIPTION:  \n\n\nCommemoration of St Stephen the Protomartyr and the first Martyr\n\nSt Stephen is one of the most beloved saints of the Universal Church\, the first person martyred for the sake of Christ’s doctrine of love. \nAccording to the hagiographical sources he was from the royal dynasty of Judas and was the son of law abiding parents. Whilst still a young man\, he was the servant of the chief priest Kayipaya. According to the same sources\, when the Lord was taken to his home\, Stephen took off the cloth from his head and spread it under the Lord’s feet thus expressing his true and sincere love. This naturally annoyed the chief priest and he turned Stephen out. Stephen witnessed the death and burial of our Lord but rejoiced with the apostles for the Glorious Resurrection of Christ. According to St Gregory of Tatev\, he went to the apostles Peter and John and was baptised. At the moment of baptism a crown appeared on the water. After that miraculous event he was called “Stephen” meaning (crowned). From the Acts of the Apostles it is known that after the Pentecost\, apostles served food and gave subsidies to the poor. From day to day the number of those who believed in Christ increased. As the apostles were unable to meet the needs of everybody\, they asked their disciples to choose seven persons of good reputation to serve the food. According to St Luke the Evangelist\, one of them was St Stephen\, “… a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5). By the power received from Christ\, the apostles ordained him a deacon. Stephen worked wonders thanks to his God granted virtues and power. Many people tried to argue with him\, but no one was as wise as Stephen. \nSome people were persuaded to say that Stephen scolded God and the Prophet Moses\, thus inciting the people. As a result\, the priests and the lawyers took Stephen to court. In his speech\, in his defense\, Stephen proved that Jesus was the promised Messiah\, and reproached the Jews for their cruelty. He was stoned out of the city and his cloths were put before a man whose name was Saul and who later became the Apostle Peter. In the beginning he persecuted Christians but later he knew the true God – Jesus Christ\, and became the most zealous preacher of the Gospel. St Stephen was the first person martyred for the sake of Christ and that’s why he is called Protomartyr. \nAccording to the tradition Gamaliel\, the teacher of the Apostle Peter and Nicodemus\, his brother\, who were secret disciples of Jesus\, buried St Stephen’s body on their farm. Soon a priest named Lukianus discovered the relics. And Pontiff Hovhan of Jerusalem put them in St Sion. In the fifth century\, Princess Juliane found the saint’s tabernacle in Jerusalem and took it to Constantinople\, and later\, to Venice and buried it in the Church of St George (St. Gevorg) island.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-st-stephen-the-protomartyr-and-the-first-martyr-3-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231223
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231224
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211011T232153Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211029T032117Z
UID:21132-1703289600-1703375999@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of the Prophet St David and Apostle St James
DESCRIPTION:  \n\n\n\nCommemoration of the Prophet St David and Apostle St James\, brother of Jesus\n\nThe Prophet St David was the great grandson of Boaz and Ruth. The Holy Bible depicts him as a psalmist\, gifted\, wise\, handsome man and orator. He was a shepherd. During the battle against Philistines he killed the giant Goliath. After the death of Saul he became the king of Israel and founded the city Jerusalem. He is the author of the book of Psalms and one of the greatest and influential figures of the Old Testament \nGod chose him as king of Israel\, despite his being the youngest of the sons of Jesse: God does not look at the appearance but at the heart of man. A warrior and poet\, David was also a great sinner\, but recognised his faults and asked forgiveness. Our Lord Jesus Christ is born of David’s line \nSt James\, brother of Jesus\, is the combining link between the Evangelical saints and the saints mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. He is one of the important figures of the Initial Church and the first Bishop of Jerusalem. Jewish historian Hovsepius characterises him as “righteous”. \nAccording to hagiographical sources some people forced him to get on the tower and slander against Jesus. However\, getting on the tower\, he started to speak about Jesus the Messiah\, who sat on the right side of God and would come to judge the world fairly. Many people were converted\, but others threw the saint down from the tower. According to the tradition St James is buried in the Cathedral of St James of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. One letter from James has been preserved. \nThe Armenian Apostolic Church commemorates the memory of the Prophet St David and Apostle St James\, brother of Jesus\, during the main feasts preceding the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-the-prophet-st-david-and-apostle-st-james-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231216
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231217
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211011T231015Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211029T031129Z
UID:20051-1702684800-1702771199@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of the Pontiff St James of Nisibis\, Hermit St Maruge and Bishop St. Melitus
DESCRIPTION:  \nPontiff St. James (Soorp Hagop) of Nisibis is one of the authoritative and beloved saints of the Universal Church. He has deserved the epithet “Thaumaturge” (Wonderworker) for the numerous miracles relating to his name. According to hagiographical sources St. James was from a Parthian dynasty and the nephew of St. Gregory the Illuminator. When the family members of Anak the Parthian were killed\, nurses secretly fled to Caesaria taking with them baby Suren and James where they were educated in the Christian spirit. Soon baby James and his sister Sakden were taken to Persia and for a while lived in the royal palace. However\, James withdrew from a safe and well todo life and became a hermit. \nHe left for Nisibis where he met hermit St. Maruge\, who was famous for leading a life befitting saints. After the death of the Bishop of Nisibis\, God appeared to Maruge and told him that St. James was the deserving candidate for the Bishop of  Nisibis. \nJames learnt from the hermit Maruge that many people\, despite their conversion to true faith\, were skeptical and suspicious about the existence of Noah’s Ark. \nJames decided to climb Mount Ararat in order to see the Ark and bring back a piece of it. He tried many times to climb Mount Ararat to find Noah’s Ark\, which was buried under thick layers of ice\, at Parrot Glacier\, upon the top of the mountain. He would climb the mountain\, fall asleep and wake up downhill from where he was. After repeated failed attempts\, God appeared to him in a dream and said\, “Do not try to find the Ark anymore. I will give you a piece of a wood of what the Ark was hewn”. When he woke up\, to his amazement\, he found the wood lying nearby. He decided to build the monastery at the location that he found the wood. St James passed away in 350AD after leading his flock for many years. \nSaint Hagop monastery was founded in 341 A.D. It was built upon the northeastern slope of Mount Ararat (Masis) in the Masyatsotn canton of a larger province of Ararat in the Armenian kingdom. Some sources say that St. Hagop was the name of the monastery while there was a chapel of St. James nearby\, while other sources refer to the two as the same site. The monastery is said to have contained relics of wood from the Biblical Ark of Noah. A strong earthquake occurred at Mount Ararat on July 2\, 1840 causing an avalanche that destroyed the monastery of St. Hagop\, Arakelots Vank in the neighboring village of Akori as well as the village itself. The piece of the Ark is currently kept in the museum of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. \nBishop St. Melitus was born in Melitene\, Armenia Minor. In 358 he was the Bishop of Sebastia. In 360 he ascended the throne of Antioch. He struggled against the Arians. In 381 he presided the Second Ecumenical Council convened in Constantinople but unfortunately passed away before the end of the Council.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-the-pontiff-st-james-of-nisibis-hermit-st-maruge-and-bishop-st-melitus-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231210
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231211
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211011T000413Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211029T030836Z
UID:21103-1702166400-1702252799@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Eve of the Fast of St James
DESCRIPTION:  \nToday commemorates the eve (paregentan) of the Fast of St. James (Hagop) of Nisibus. \nThe five day fast\, Monday to Friday\, leads us to the Feast of St. James\, which is next Saturday. Traditionally the entire fifty day period of Advent was a period of fasting\, similar to Great Lent. In modern times\, three week long (Monday to Friday) fasts are observed during Advent: Fast of Advent (Hisnagats Bahk)\, Fast of St James (Sourp Hagopee Bahk)\, and the Fast of the Nativity (Dznuntyan Bahk).
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/eve-of-the-fast-of-st-james-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Eve-of-the-Fast-3.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231209
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231210
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211011T230220Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211020T070925Z
UID:20033-1702080000-1702166399@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Conception of Saint Mary by Anna
DESCRIPTION:  \n\n\nSt. Mary is known in the Armenian Church as Asdvadzamayr-Asdvadzadzin\, the “Mother of God” and the “Bearer of God” a position doctrinally established at the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus in the 5th century. \nHer life of holiness and purity\, and her graceful acceptance of the role to which God called her\, as the mother of Jesus Christ\, all make Mary one of the pre-eminent exemplars of the Christian faith\, whose birth and very conception are occasions for celebration in the church. \nOnly those aspects of St. Mary’s life\, which are directly related to Christ are recorded in the Gospel. The remainder of her biography is attributed to tradition\, which is found in ancient ecclesiastical literature. \nIn all likelihood\, Mary was born in Bethlehem or Nazareth\, some 20 years before Christ’s nativity. Her parents\, Joachim and Anna\, were a devout couple whose earnest prayers for a child were answered with the birth of a daughter. \nAlthough Mary was born naturally\, she is considered morally pure and immaculate. It is for this reason that the church celebrates not only her birth\, but also her conception\, which the Armenian and the Greek Orthodox churches observe on December 9\, and the Roman Catholic Church celebrates on December 8. \nThe concept of Mary’s moral purity later developed into the question of her Immaculate Conception (from Anna)\, a doctrine adopted by the Roman Catholic Church in 1854. The Armenian Church\, however\, does not accept this\, as only Christ was immaculately conceived. \nHowever\, Mary’s purity is unquestioned. According to the teachings of the Armenian Church\, at the time of the Annunciation\, when the Holy Spirit entered Mary\, she was cleansed of all original sin\, as she was to be the vessel in which God manifest was to be incarnated. \nAccording to tradition\, following the Ascension of Christ\, Mary lived out the rest of her days in Jerusalem\, cared for by St. John the Evangelist. She died in Jerusalem some 15 years after Christ’s Ascension and was buried in her family tomb in Gethsemane.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/conception-of-saint-mary-by-anna-3/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231207
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231208
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211101T050913Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211101T051011Z
UID:21240-1701907200-1701993599@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:The Commemoration of the Desert Fathers (Egyptian Hermits)
DESCRIPTION:The Desert Fathers were early Christian hermits\, ascetics and monks who lived mainly in the Scetes desert of Egypt beginning around the third century AD.  The most well known was Anthony the Great\, who moved to the desert in AD 270–271 and became known as both the father and founder of desert monasticism. Sometime around AD 270\, Anthony heard a Sunday sermon stating that perfection could be achieved by selling all of one’s possessions\, giving the proceeds to the poor and following Jesus. He followed the advice and made the further step of moving deep into the desert to seek complete solitude. By the time Anthony died in AD 356\, thousands of monks and nuns had been drawn to living in the desert following Anthony’s example. \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”. \nThe monastic communities were essentially an alternate Christian society. The hermits doubted that religion and politics could ever produce a truly Christian society. For them\, the only Christian society was spiritual and not mundane. \nThe Desert Fathers gave a great deal of emphasis to living and practicing the teachings of Jesus\, much more than theoretical knowledge. Their efforts to live the commandments were not seen as being easy\, many of the stories from that time recount the struggle to overcome negative emotions such as anger and judgment of others. Helping a brother monk who was ill or struggling was seen as taking priority over any other consideration. Hermits were frequently seen to break a long fast when hosting visitors\, as hospitality and kindness were more important than keeping the ascetic practices that were so dominant in the Desert Fathers’ lives. \nThere are many different collections of sayings of the Desert Fathers. The collection now known as the Systematic Collection began to emerge at approximately AD 500\, and features sayings from various earlier collections combined and systematically ordered under twenty one chapters. 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/the-commemoration-of-the-desert-fathers-egyptian-hermits-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231205
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231206
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211011T225248Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211029T031700Z
UID:21118-1701734400-1701820799@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of St Abgar (Apkar)
DESCRIPTION:  \n\n\nCommemoration of St Abgar\, First Martyr of the Church and our first King believing in Christ\n\nAccording to Armenian tradition\, St Abgar was the first Christian king of the 1st century\, the son of the Parthian king Arshakunie Arsham. He was also called “senior man” as he was the wisest of all and a genius. Historian Moses of Khoronk\, Assyrian historian Labubnia of Yedessia\, Greek historians Procopis and Yeusebius have all written of King Abgar. He built the city of Yedessia on the site where the Armenian army protected the river crossing of the Euphrates from the Roman captain Casius. Later the king moved the royal palace and all idols from Nisibis to that city. \nIt is during the period of the reign of King Abgar that Jesus Christ\, the Saviour of the world\, was born. King Abgar\, who was incurable\, became aware of the wonders worked by Christ\, believed in Christ and by means of his delegates sent a letter of petition to Jerusalem\, to the Saviour\, asking Him to come and heal him. In response\, the letter stated that Christ still had important things to do in Jerusalem\, but He would send one of His disciples to the king to heal him. After the Ascension of the Saviour\, Apostle St Thaddeus came to Yedessia\, healed King Abgar\, preached the Gospel and appointed Adde\, the silk-weaver\, to be his successor. Jesus had sent his portrait to Abgar and it was kept for a long time in Yedessia and later in the churches of various cities and towns. \nAfter that\, King Apgar sent letters to King Tiberius and King Nerseh of Assyria exhorting them to admit Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Saviour. \nIt is believed that King Agbar died in the first half of the first century.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-st-abgar-apkar-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231202
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231203
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211011T222953Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211025T052848Z
UID:20046-1701475200-1701561599@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of the Apostles St Thaddeus and St Bartholomew
DESCRIPTION:  \n\n\nThe first preachers of Christianity in Armenia\nSaints Thaddeus and Bartholomew were two of the original disciples of Jesus Christ. When they came to the land of our ancestors to spread the Good News of Christ’s Resurrection\, they were not just offering an abstract philosophy. They told about their own first hand experience of the life and mystery of Jesus\, stories they knew from having lived side by side with him. \nBecause of Thaddeus and Bartholomew\, Armenians are part of an unbroken tradition stretching all the way back to the original apostles\, and through them\, to the historic figure of Jesus Christ himself. And to this day\, our church renews and refreshes that personal union between Christ and each of us. \nSt Thaddeus\, inspired by the Holy Spirit soon after Jesus’ death\, spread the good news of Jesus Christ’s teaching and resurrection in Syria\, Iraq and Armenia. \nIn Armenia\, Thaddeus met with the Armenian King Abgar\, who reigned in the city of Edessa from 1 B.C. to A.D. 37. King Abgar had contracted a grave illness during his travels to the East. Hearing of the miracles of healing by Jesus of Nazareth\, he wrote a letter to Jerusalem inviting Christ to Edessa. A delegation headed by the king’s emissary Anan delivered the letter to Jerusalem\, where it was received by the Apostle Thomas. The delegation may have been among the pagans the Apostle John wrote about in his account of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem “and there were certain pagans who had come to Jerusalem to worship him” (John 12:20). \nKing Abgar’s letter received its response after the Resurrection and Pentecost\, with the mission of Thaddeus to go to Armenia. \n\nAccording to tradition\, St. Thaddeus brought to Armenia the spear (geghard) with which the centurion Lucian pierced Christ’s side on the cross. It was kept at Ayrivank (Cave Monastery)\, now known as Geghard Monastery in Armenia. This sacred relic is used once every seven years in the consecration of Holy Chrism (Muron)\, which is used for baptismal\, ordination and other rites by Armenian churches around the world. \n\nThaddeus was a bold missionary\, bringing the word into the royal palace of Armenia’s King Sanatruk\, baptising the king’s daughter\, Sandoukht. The established government and religious leaders bitterly opposed the threatening new sect called Christianity\, going so far as to imprison the king’s daughter. In prison\, Sandoukht refused to renounce Christianity\, instead converting the other prisoners. Sandoukht became the first Armenian martyr. When her father forced her to choose between the church and the crown\, Sandoukht chose the church\, knowing it would mean her death. \nSt. Bartholomew\, also named Nathaniel\, was a disciple whom Jesus especially liked from the first time they met. Although at first doubting whether Jesus was the long awaited Messiah\, Bartholomew responded to Jesus’ invitation to “come and see\,” showing his openness to discover the truth without being naive. Seeing this\, Jesus turned to the other followers and proclaimed\, “Behold\, an Israelite indeed\, in whom there is no guile (John 1:47). \nBartholomew followed Thaddeus’ mission to Armenia around the time of Santoukht’s imprisonment and martyrdom. He converted King Sanatruk’s sister Volouhi. The king in anger ordered the execution of both his sister and Bartholomew.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-the-apostles-st-thaddeus-and-st-bartholomew-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231130
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231201
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211101T043942Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211101T044511Z
UID:21227-1701302400-1701388799@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of the Pontiff St Clement and Bishop St Bagrat of Taormina
DESCRIPTION:  \nPope Clement I (called Clemens Romanus to distinguish him from the Alexandrian)\, is the first of the successors of St Peter of whom anything definite is known\, and he is the first of the “Apostolic Fathers”. The Apostolic Fathers were a group of early Christian leaders who were believed to know the Apostles personally. St Clement was said to have succeeded St Peter as the Pope of the Church at Rome. \nHe was a disciple of St Peter and it is thought that the Clement whom St Paul praises as a faithful fellow worker\, whose name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3)\, was St Clement. \nClement I has one genuine writing\, a letter to the Church of Corinth. However\, many others have been attributed to him. The letter to Corinth is particularly significant in Catholic theology in that it demonstrates the Roman church’s early role in guiding the conduct of other churches. The letter was widely read in the early Christian churches and is included in some early manuscripts as scripture\, along with the letters of Paul. \nLittle is known of Clement’s ministry other than the writings attributed to him. Early sources indicate that he died a natural death\, but later tradition holds that he was martyred. \nAccording to apocryphal Acts of the Martyrs\, dating to the 4th century at earliest\, Clement was banished from Rome to the Chersonesus during the reign of the Emperor Trajan and was set to work in a stone quarry. Finding on his arrival that the prisoners were suffering from lack of water\, he knelt down in prayer. Looking up\, he saw a lamb on a hill\, went to where the lamb had stood and struck the ground with his pickaxe\, releasing a gushing stream of clear water. This miracle resulted in the conversion of large numbers of the local pagans and his fellow prisoners to Christianity. As punishment\, Clement was martyred by being tied to an anchor and thrown from a boat into the Black Sea. \nThe Inkerman Cave Monastery marks the supposed place of Clement’s burial in the Crimea. A year or two before his own death in 869\, Saint Cyril (born Constantine\, 826–869) brought to Rome what he believed to be the relics of Saint Clement\, bones he found in the Crimea buried with an anchor on dry land. They are now enshrined in the Basilica di San Clemente. Other relics of Saint Clement\, including his head\, are claimed by the Kyiv Monastery of the Caves in Ukraine. \nSt Bagrat was born in Antioch in Cilicia\, during the time when the Lord Jesus Christ walked as a man among men on earth. After the Ascension of Christ\, St Bagrat (Pankratios/Pancratius/Pancras) at the age of three\, went with his parents to Jerusalem. They converted to Christianity after hearing Christ Himself preach and seeing His miracles. After his parents died\, St Bagrat took up a solitary life in the province of Pontos\, where the Apostle Peter found him\, and in agreement with the Apostle Paul he was appointed as the Bishop of Taormina in Sicily. In Taormina\, St Pancratius worked many miracles\, destroyed idols\, baptised those who converted and strengthened those that were already baptised. He was a devout and loved leader of the Church. \nA heathen commander by the name of Aquilinus heard that the entire city of Taormina had converted to Christianity. He set out with an entire army in order to destroy the city of Taormina. St Pancratius encouraged the faithful not to be afraid. His clergy joined him as he went outside the city carrying in his hands the invincible weapon of the cross. When the army approached the city\, darkness befell them and the soldiers were overcome with great fear. In their confusion\, the attackers turned against one another and pierced and slaughtered each other with their swords. Thus Bagrat\, the chosen one of God\, saved the city and his flock by the power of his prayer before the Lord. In the end\, Bagrat was stoned to death by the heathens and found rest in the Lord. A portion of his relics are kept on Mount Athos. \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-the-pontiff-st-clement-and-bishop-st-bagrat-of-taormina-3/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231125
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231126
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211031T100607Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211031T100810Z
UID:21206-1700870400-1700956799@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of St Gregory the Thaumaturgus\, Nicholas the Bishop and St Myron the Wonderworker
DESCRIPTION:  \nGregory Thaumaturgus (Miracle Worker) or Gregory of Neocaesarea was a Christian bishop of the 3rd century. \nGregory was born around AD 213 to a wealthy pagan family in Neocaesarea. Originally he was known as Theodore (“gift of God”). He was introduced to the Christian religion at the age of fourteen\, after the death of his father. He had a brother Athenodorus\, and on the advice of one of their tutors\, the young men were eager to study at the Berytus in Beirut\, then one of the four or five famous schools in the Hellenic world. At this time\, their brother-in-law was appointed assessor (legal counsel) to the Roman Governor of Palestine; the youths were able to act as an escort to their sister as far as Caesarea in Palestine. On arrival in that town they learned that the celebrated scholar Origen\, head of the Catechetical School of Alexandria\, resided there. Curiosity led them to hear and converse with the master. Soon both youths forgot all about Beirut and Roman law\, and gave themselves up to the great Christian teacher\, who gradually won them over to Christianity. \nWhen Gregory returned home\, he found a Christian community of 17 people waiting for him. Soon afterward\, Gregory was elected bishop. Although his training was in speculative theology\, Gregory’s pastoral work was concerned with practical applications of the faith. His skills were such that some of his flock soon attributed miracles to him\, hence his nickname “The Wonder Worker.” \n“Gregory was a great and conspicuous lamp\, illuminating the church of God\,” wrote Basil. “He possessed\, from the co-operation of the Spirit\, a formidable power against the demons\, that he turned the course of rivers by giving them orders in the name of Christ; and that his predictions of the future made him the equal of other prophets.” \nGregory’s leadership was renowned during his ministry\, as most of the city of Pontus converted to Christianity. \nSt Nicholas was born during the third century in the village of Patara in Asia Minor. At the time the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents\, who raised him to be a devout Christian\, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus’ words to “sell what you own and give the money to the poor\,” Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy\, the sick and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra\, Lycia while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need\, his love for children and his concern for sailors and ships. \nUnder the Roman Emperor Diocletian\, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians\, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith and was exiled and imprisoned. The prisons were so full of bishops\, priests and deacons that there was no room for the real criminals i.e murderers\, thieves and robbers. After his release\, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. He died 6 December 343 AD in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church (Church of the tomb of St Nicholas). A unique relic\, called manna was known to have formed in his grave. This liquid substance was said to have healing powers which resulted in many pilgrimages\, over the centuries\, to the church. \nSt Nicholas was a secret and generous giver of gifts and some believe him to be the model for Santa Claus. \nMyron\, Bishop of Knossos\, the wonder worker was born (approximated 250 AD) while Roman Emperor Dekius was in rule\, in the village of Rafkos or Rafkia\, southwest of Knossos\, Crete. Saint Myron came from a noble family and had God fearing parents who cultivated humility and love for his fellow man. He was a farmer by profession and offered much of his crop to the poor. \nHe was known for his goodness and he assisted everyone who turned to him for help. Once\, thieves burst in upon his threshing floor\, and Saint Myron himself helped them lift a sack of grain upon their shoulders. By his generosity\, the saint so shamed the thieves\, that they began to lead honourable lives. He literally took Christ’s words\, “If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic\, let him have your cloak also” (Matthew 5:40). \nAfter the premature death of his wife and after years of service to his community\, Myron was urged to join the priesthood by his fellow Cretans. He eventually rose to the position of Bishop of all Crete. The village of his birth is today called Agiou Myronos in his honour. His career was marked by many miracles\, earning him the title “Wonderworker.” One such miracle was when the River Triton had flooded and Myron caused it to become solid in order to walk across it and see his parishioners. He then sent a man back to the river to touch it with his staff so it would flow again. \nIn spite of his high position\, Saint Myron remained a humble philanthropist and passed away when he was close to 100 years old. \n  \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-st-gregory-the-thaumaturgus-nicholas-the-bishop-and-st-myron-the-wonderworker-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231125
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231126
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211029T030420Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211029T030511Z
UID:21095-1700870400-1700956799@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of Pontiff St Nicholas
DESCRIPTION:  \nSt Nicholas was born during the third century in the village of Patara in Asia Minor. At the time the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents\, who raised him to be a devout Christian\, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus’ words to “sell what you own and give the money to the poor\,” Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy\, the sick and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra\, Lycia while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need\, his love for children and his concern for sailors and ships. \nUnder the Roman Emperor Diocletian\, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians\, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith and was exiled and imprisoned. The prisons were so full of bishops\, priests and deacons that there was no room for the real criminals i.e murderers\, thieves and robbers. After his release\, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. He died 6 December 343 AD in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church (Church of the tomb of St Nicholas). A unique relic\, called manna was known to have formed in his grave. This liquid substance was said to have healing powers which resulted in many pilgrimages\, over the centuries\, to the church. \nSt Nicholas was a secret and generous giver of gifts and some believe him to be the model for Santa Claus. \nOne story tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman’s father had to offer prospective husbands something of value\, a dowry. The larger the dowry\, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry\, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man’s daughters\, without dowries\, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously\, on three different occasions\, a bag of gold appeared in their home\, providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold\, tossed through an open window\, are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes\, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas. Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. That is why three gold balls\, sometimes represented as oranges\, are one of the symbols for St. Nicholas. Thus St. Nicholas was known as a gift giver. \nAnother story tells of three theological students\, traveling on their way to study in Athens. A wicked innkeeper robbed and murdered them\, hiding their remains in a large pickling tub. It so happened that Bishop Nicholas\, traveling along the same route\, stopped at this very inn. In the night he dreamed of the crime\, got up\, and summoned the innkeeper. As Nicholas prayed earnestly to God the three boys were restored to life and wholeness. In France the story is told of three small children\, wandering in their play until lost\, lured and captured by an evil butcher. St Nicholas appears and appeals to God to return them to life and to their families. Thus St Nicholas is the patron and protector of children. \nSeveral stories tell of Nicholas and the sea. When he was young\, Nicholas made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. There as he walked where Jesus walked as he sought to more deeply experience Jesus’ life\, passion and resurrection. Returning by sea\, a mighty storm threatened to wreck the ship. Nicholas calmly prayed. The terrified sailors were amazed when the wind and waves suddenly calmed\, sparing them all. As a result\, St Nicholas is the patron of sailors and voyagers. \nOther stories tell of Nicholas saving his people from famine\, sparing the lives of those innocently accused and much more. He did many kind and generous deeds in secret\, expecting nothing in return. Within a century of his death he was celebrated as a saint. \nThrough the centuries many stories and legends have been told of St Nicholas’ life and deeds. These accounts help us understand his extraordinary character and why he is so beloved and revered as a protector and helper of those in need. \nHe was a defender of orthodoxy and because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession\, he is called “the Wonderworker.”
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-pontiff-st-nicholas-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231121
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231122
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211010T235036Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211020T071241Z
UID:20038-1700524800-1700611199@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Presentation of Three Year Old St. Mary to the Church
DESCRIPTION:  \nOne of the feasts dedicated to the Holy Virgin is the presentation of three year old Mary (Holy Mother of God) to the temple. All Christian Churches celebrate this feast on November 21. \nAccording to the Holy Tradition of the Church\, when Mary turns three the parents of the Holy Virgin\, Joachim and Anna\, fulfilling their promise\, bring Mary to the Temple and present her to God. Mary remains in the Church till her engagement. \nThe establishment of the feast is related to the Cathedral\, which was built by the King Justinianos in honour of St. Mary\, the Holy Mother of God\, in the place of the old Jewish temple\, on the hill of Moria. The cathedral was consecrated on November 21\, 543 AD. \nAfter 638 AD\, when the Cathedral\, built by the King Justinianos\, was converted into a Moslem temple\, the celebration of the feast spread throughout the entire Christian world. The Feast of the Presentation of St. Mary to the Church was included in the Armenian Apostolic Church Calendar in the nineteenth century.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/presentation-of-three-year-old-st-mary-to-the-church-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231120
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231121
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211010T004635Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211020T064006Z
UID:20020-1700438400-1700524799@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Advent: Hisnag
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Season of Advent refers to the coming of Christ and in the Armenian language it is termed “Hisnag” (or Yisnak)\, derived from the word for “fifty”. \nHisnag refers to the fifty-day period of preparation in celebration of the Nativity and Theophany of Jesus Christ. \nWhat type of preparation does this involve? \nDuring Advent\, we can rededicate ourselves to Christ through our actions\, thoughts\, and prayers. This is a good time for us to improve our habits and offer them as gifts to God. Perhaps Advent can also be an occasion to discover God’s gifts all around us. We need to have an open heart to receive Christ—God’s greatest gift of all! \nFasting during Hisnag \nIn the Armenian Church\, the season is introduced by a week of fasting\, called “the Fast of the Beginning of Hisnag”. \nThe second fast\, of a week’s duration\, follows the third Sunday of Hisnag. This fast is known as “the Fast of St. James\, Bishop of Nisibis.” The commemoration of the latter takes place on the following Saturday. \nThe third and final fast\, again of a week’s duration\, precedes the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ. \nDuring the remaining weeks of Hisnag\, when there is no fasting\, the Wednesdays and Fridays are regularly observed as fasting days. \nCommemorations during Hisnag \nDuring the Hisnag we commemorate some of the important and major saints of the Christian Church. Among them are the 4th-century founders of Christian theology St. Gregory the Wonderworker and St. Basil of Caesarea; the Holy Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew\, the enlighteners of Armenia; the Egyptian fathers; the early bishops of the church\, such as St. Clemens\, St. Ignatius\, St. Polycarpus\, St. Nicholas; St. James of Nisibis; and at the very end of the year\, King David commemorated as a prophet; the Holy Apostle James\, Brother of the Lord; St. Stephen the Protomartyr; the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul; the Holy Apostles James and John\, both of them surnamed as Sons of Thunder. \nAdvent begins on the day after the Sunday nearest November 18. It lasts between six and seven weeks\, depending each year on the duration of the period between Assumption (Sunday closest to August 15) and Theophany (January 6).
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/advent-hisnag-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231119
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231120
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211010T015826Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211020T062911Z
UID:20008-1700352000-1700438399@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Eve of the Fast of Advent (Hisnag)
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Eve of the Fast of Advent marks the day before the start of the period of “Fifty Days” (Hisnag or Yisnak) that concludes with the Feast of Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ. \nIn the Armenian Church\, the season is introduced by a week of fasting\, called “the Fast of the Beginning of Hisnag”. \nDuring Advent (meaning the coming of Christ) we rededicate ourselves to Christ through our actions\, thoughts and prayers. \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/eve-of-the-fast-of-advent-hisnag-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231118
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231119
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211015T060122Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211020T081642Z
UID:20119-1700265600-1700351999@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of the Apostles Andrew and Philip
DESCRIPTION:  \nBefore becoming Christ’s disciple\, Apostle Andrew had been the disciple of St. John the Baptist. He was the brother of the Apostle Peter and was a fisherman. After the Ascension of the Lord and the Descent of the Holy Spirit\, Apostle Andrew preached in Northern Greece and in Scythe. \nThe Gospel of John recounts Philip’s calling as a disciple of Jesus. Apostle Philip is described as a disciple from the city of Bethsaida\, and John the Evangelist connects him with Andrew and Peter\, who were from the same town. He also was among those surrounding John the Baptist when the latter first pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God. It was Philip who first introduced Nathanael (sometimes identified with Bartholomew) to Jesus. According to Butler\, Philip was among those attending the wedding at Cana. \nApostle Philip preached in Asia Minor and he was martyred and crucified in the town of Heliople.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-the-apostles-andrew-and-phillip-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Andrew-e1634717757870.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231111
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231112
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211009T061712Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211020T030339Z
UID:19985-1699660800-1699747199@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of Archangels Gabriel and Michael and the Entire Heavenly Class
DESCRIPTION:  \nAccording to the Angelology of the Armenian Church the angels are unfleshly\, spiritual\, independent\, always moving\, asexual\, immortal creatures and God’s servants. According to the Church Fathers\, the angels\, as luminous creatures\, have been created on the first day of Creation\, together with the light. By God’s order they are servants\, they have been created to serve humans. Therefore\, they are servants\, who despite being dyophysite\, participate in the earthly life\, act together with the human being living in time and space\, they act for the human being. The angels are called the messengers and agents of God\, who realise God’s will. According to Dionysius of Areopagus (Areopagite)\, there are nine orders of angels – Angels\, Archangels\, Virtues\, Powers\, Principalities\, Dominations\, Throne\, Cherubim and Seraphim. \nArchangel Gabriel\, whose name means “God’s man”\, is God’s direct servant\, who is granted the grace to evangelise the Lord’s mysteries. It was Archangel Gabriel\, who was sent by the Lord to bring the good news to the Virgin about the birth of the Saviour\, and to Zechariah – to bring the good news about the birth of John the Baptist. \nArchangel Michael\, whose name means “Who is like God?”\, is the advocate for the Heavenly King’s glory and His people’s protection\, who is granted the virtue to govern and rule. The name of Archangel Michael is mentioned in the Holy Scriptures four times (The Book of Daniel\,10:13\, 12:1\, The Letter from Jude 1:9\, The Revelation to John 11:7).
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-archangels-gabriel-and-michael-and-the-entire-heavenly-class-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231105
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231106
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211108T064000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211108T064208Z
UID:21343-1699142400-1699228799@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Anniversary of the Enthronement of Karekin II
DESCRIPTION:  \nThis week marks the anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Karekin II. It was on November 4\, 1999\, that His Holiness was consecrated as the 132nd Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians\, in a magnificent ceremony at the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. \nThroughout the history of the Armenian Church\, our great symbol of leadership has been the Catholicos of All Armenians. To every generation of our people\, the Catholicos is the leader of the church. \nBut he leads in a larger sense\, as well. He is the living embodiment of our heritage: a heritage that has endured through 17 centuries; that has attained the highest achievements; and that today spans the entire globe. \nAs the successor to St. Gregory the Illuminator\, His Holiness Karekin II is our generation’s link to the great events that transformed the Armenian people into the world’s first Christian nation. He is our link to the miraculous vision of Christ that established the Mother See of our church\, Holy Etchmiadzin. \nIn the presence of Amenayn Hayots\, one experiences a rebirth of those great milestones of faith. \nAs we honour the anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Karekin II\, we remember that the 132nd Catholicos embodies another rebirth\, as well. For our homeland has also been reborn. It is God’s blessing that our generation has lived to see the establishment of an independent Republic of Armenia. \nVehapar has been a leading force in rebuilding our homeland\, and fortifying its ancestral church. As he reminds us of our proud past\, he also turns our eyes to the promise that Armenia can hold in the future. \nCatholicos Karekin’s valiant spirit calls each of us to build upon the foundation we have inherited: to beautify that inheritance\, and strengthen it for the sake of the future. Certainly\, that is the task that Vehapar has taken up as leader of our church: to revitalise the spiritual life of the Armenian people throughout the world. \nIn honouring Vehapar’s anniversary\, we stand with him\, and with the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin\, at this critical moment in the life of our nation\, church\, and people. May God continue to bless and strengthen him in his ministry. \nAnd may our risen Lord grant a new birth of faith\, a new life\, to all the members of Christ’s humble Armenian flock. \nRef: armenianchurch.us \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/anniversary-of-the-enthronement-of-karekin-ii-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231031
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231101
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211028T100501Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211028T100501Z
UID:21075-1698710400-1698796799@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of  Saints Severianos of Sebastia and Babylas of Nicomedia
DESCRIPTION:  \nSt Severianos (St Severian) was a senator from Sebastia\, who was both an illustrious man of wealth and a fearless Christian. \nDuring the 4th century\, the Forty Holy Martyrs (Karasoun Mangounk) were imprisoned by the pagan emperor Licinius\, because of their steadfast refusal to renounce their faith. St Severian showed sincere compassion for the forty Christian soldiers. He visited the captives in prison\, raised their spirits and appealed to their valour and stoic strength. These martyrs eventually met their death at Lake Sebaste. \nHalf a year later\, Severian was also brought to trial for confessing the Christian Faith and he was subjected to cruel tortures. Deeply devoted to the will of God\, Saint Severian called out to the Lord during his torment\, imploring Him for the strength to endure the suffering and to complete his deed of martyrdom. \nAfter intense torture\, and unbroken in his faith\, the holy martyr was suspended from the city wall with one stone chained around his neck\, and another chained to his feet until he eventually died. His body was carried by the christians of Sebaste to his home\, where the locals paid their respects and prayed over him. Amidst all this\, a servant of Saint Severian\, who had just died\, miraculously awoke to follow his master’s final path. He continued to live another fifteen years\, never leaving the burial place of the holy martyr. \nThe Martyr Babylas and 84 disciples with him suffered in the city of Nicomedia for confessing Christianity during the reign of the emperor Maximian (284-305). The emperor\, who was then in Nicomedia\, renewed the persecutions against the Christians. \nLike many other believers\, Saint Babylas was denounced as someone who was instructing children in Christian piety. When Babylas was brought before the emperor\, he confessed that there was only on true God and thus he was subjected to a host of torments. \nDuring his sufferings\, the holy martyr cried to God\, “I thank You\, O Lord\, that You have made me\, who am old and infirm\, to be young and strong.” After being pelted with stones\, he was clapped in irons and taken to prison. \nThen Babylas’ young disciples were brought before the emperor. Neither flattery nor promise of gifts were able to alter the Christian convictions of the children. Two of them\, Ammonias and Donatus\, firmly declared\, “We are Christians\, and we will not offer sacrifice to deaf and dumb devils.” \nThe emperor flew into a rage over the unexpected and firm rebuke from the children. At first\, he ordered them to be whipped\, and later to be put to death by beheading\, together with their teacher. On the way to execution\, the holy Martyr Babylas quoted Isaiah\, “Behold\, I and the children which God has given me” (Isaiah 8:18). With spiritual rejoicing\, first Saint Babylas\, and then his 84 disciples\, received the crown of martyrdom. \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-saints-severianos-of-sebastia-and-babylas-of-nicomedia-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231031
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231101
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211015T025002Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211028T072254Z
UID:21069-1698710400-1698796799@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of the Pontiff St John the Chrysostom
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Pontiff St John the Chrysostom\, is one of the most prominent and gracious Fathers of the Universal Church. He was born in Antioch\, in 347 AD. He studied in the Theological School of Antioch and advanced his skills in public speaking in the School of Libanios. From a young age\, he led an ascetic life. In 381 AD he was ordained as a Deacon by Meletios of Antioch and in 386 AD was ordained as a priest by Flavianos. Thanks to his brilliant and eloquent speeches and sermons he has been give the title “Chrysostom”\, from the Greek meaning “golden mouthed”. \nIn 398 AD he was elected the Patriarch of Constantinople and zealously initiated renovation and reconstruction works of the capital city. He was most concerned with the spiritual and temporal needs of the poor. He spoke out against abuse of wealth and personal property. In many respects\, the following he amassed was no surprise. His straightforward understanding of the Scriptures (in contrast to the Alexandrian tendency towards allegorical interpretation) meant that the themes of his talks were eminently social\, explaining the Christian’s conduct in life. \nHowever\, amorality and religious indifferences were dominant among the people\, the court and the clergy. St John Chrysostom condemned and criticised all forms and manifestations of amorality and as a result\, he raised the Queen Eudoxia’s anger. The Patriarch Theophilos of Alexandria\, who wished to become the Patriarch of Constantinople\, supported the Queen in her criticisms of St John Chrysostom. \nAn alliance was soon formed against him by Eudoxia\, Theophilos and other enemies of his. They held a synod (assembly) in 403AD to charge John\, in which the accusation of Origenism was used against him. It resulted in his deposition and banishment. However\, during the night of the exile\, a terrible earthquake and fire occurred which Eudoxia took as a sign of God’s anger and promptly reinstated John. \nSt John the Chrysostom continued to criticise the wrong and immoral way of life of the court. Ignoring the people’s sympathy towards the Patriarch and the protection of the Western Church\, the King Arkadios and the Queen Eudoxia again issued an order to exile the saint. St John was exiled to Pontos and was martyred in the town of Komana. His last words were: “Glory to You\, God\, glory to You\, glory to You for everything.” His remains were buried in the Church of St Apostles of Constantinople in 438 AD. \nSt John the Chrysostom is the author of many interpretations\, speeches\, odes\, epistles and letters\, which have had positive influences on the history of the Christian mind. His works have been translated into Armenian during his lifetime.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-the-pontiff-st-john-the-chrysostom-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231029
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231030
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211009T025905Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211024T053507Z
UID:19834-1698537600-1698623999@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross
DESCRIPTION:  \n\nThis is the crowning of the celebrations of the Holy Cross\, within the cycle of an entire calendar year. The Apostolic Churches owe this important feast\, upon which the other celebrations of the Cross throughout the year are established\, to Queen Helena (Heghineh)\, the mother of Byzantine Emperor Constantine. In 327\, 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. \nFor information on all the Feasts Dedicated to the Holy Cross please click here. \n\n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/feast-of-the-discovery-of-the-holy-cross-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231028
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231029
DTSTAMP:20260504T101504
CREATED:20211028T070135Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211028T070349Z
UID:21057-1698451200-1698537599@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of the Twelve Archimandrite (Holy Doctors)
DESCRIPTION:Commemoration of the Twelve Holy Doctors – Saints\, Hierotheus of Athens\, Dionysius of Areopagite\, Silverst of Rome\, Athanasius of Alexandria\, Cyril of Jerusalem\, Ephraem the Syrian\, Vasil (Barsegh) of Caesaria\, Gregory of Nyssa\, Gregory the Theologian\, Epiphanius of Cyprus\, John Chrysostom and Cyril of Alexandria\n  \nThe Twelve Archimandrite (Holy Doctors) or Church Fathers have been famous for leading a pious and devote life and are considered to be the Fathers of the Universal Church. \nChristian Doctors of the Church\, the ultimate vartabeds\, are a rare breed of scholar\, theologian and champion of the faith in Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church\, which is the most systematic about this designation\, reserves the title for those who made a significant contribution to the worshipful\, spiritual doctrine of the Church (theology). Only thirty six people in the history of Christianity are recognised by the Catholic Church as Doctors of the Church. As with many other things\, the Armenian Apostolic Church is less codified in these matters. For the Armenian Church\, someone is a saint if they are recognised liturgically as a saint. This means\, if we recall their names during the Divine Liturgy or in another liturgical context\, we should consider them as saintly sources for our lives. Throughout the year\, there are several commemorations of Doctors of the Church\, either individually or in groups. The largest grouping of such vartabeds is celebrated by the Armenian Church as the Commemoration of  the Twelve Holy Doctors (Archimandrite) of the Church. \nAmong these “Twelve Holy Doctors of the Church” is St Athanasius\, who was the Patriarch of Alexandria\, one of the major early sees of the Christian Church. He lived between 296 or 298 and 373\, and is largely known today for his forceful defense of Nicaean Christianity against Arianism\, On the Incarnation. This text is his most renowned defense of the divinity of Christ and an important document in the development of Christology\, the branch of theological thinking concerned with the question\, “Who exactly is Jesus Christ?” Armenians\, in their Miaphysite Christology that differed in certain important ways from the doctrine expressed at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD\, took many of their cues from St Cyril of Alexandria\, a later Patriarch of the same see. His famous doctrine of “One Incarnate nature of the God Logos” has been central to the Armenian conception of Jesus Christ. Yet the earlier Athanasian defense of Christ’s divinity has also been important. Sometimes\, Armenian writers appealed to St Athanasius to support the orthodoxy of their position\, even when the exact words of Athanasius are not found in his extant writings. \nThe Seal of Faith\, a crucial early source of Armenian Christianity\, which collected quotes from many of the fathers\, compiled in the seventh century\, contains a version of the “Letter to Epictetus\,” which seems dependent on an earlier translation. In other words\, while it is reasonable to assume that all of these translations of Athanasius into Armenian were completed by the ninth century and some were completed by the end of the sixth century\, it is difficult to pin down when and where the translations of Athanasius were done. \nThough this is a scholarly problem\, it has important implications for the Armenian Christian tradition. First\, St Athanasius is one of the major doctors of the Church\, universally recognised by all ancient Christian churches as a major defender of the faith. The Armenian Church’s reception of and understanding of Athanasius has consequences for much of the development of Armenian theological thinking\, especially around Christological questions. At another level\, The Life of St. Anthony\, another important text of Athanasius’ penned in praise of the great father of Egyptian desert monasticism\, was influential for Armenian spirituality and monastic development. Finally\, if Athanasius has been mobilised in partisan Christological debates\, then understanding his transmission in Armenian is crucial to meaningful ecumenical dialogue today. As one of the great defenders of Christian orthodoxy\, St Athanasius is an indispensable source for Armenian Christianity. \nRef: vemkar.us
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-the-twelve-archimandrite-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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