St. Gregory the Theologian (also known as Gregory of Nazianzus), has left a rich literary heritage, which was translated into Armenian in the 5th to 8th centuries AD. In all probability, St. Moses of Khoronk created part of the translations into Armenian. St. Gregory the Theologian is one of the most prominent figures of... Read More »
The blessing of grapes takes place immediately after the Divine Liturgy. The ceremony is rich in symbolism and emphasises the important role the Virgin Mary assumed in the revelation of God. In the Northern Hemisphere, the blessing takes place on the day of the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God. However, in... Read More »
The Fast of Catechumens is peculiar only to the Armenian Church. It begins three weeks before Great Lent. In ancient times people could eat only bread and salt during the fast of Catechumens. In those days the Divine Liturgy was not celebrated either. The meaning of the Fast of Catechumens is the purification of... Read More »
On the fifth day (Friday) of the Fasting of Catechumens, the Armenian Church commemorates the remembrance day of the Prophet Jonah. However it is celebrated not as the feast of the Prophet Jonah, but as the memory of an example of great repentance and abstinence, which Jonah urged. Prophet Jonah is one of the... Read More »
ST SARKIS THE WARRIOR AND HIS SON ST MARDIROS (MARTYROS) The feast day honoring St. Sarkis is movable. It occurs between January 11th and February 15th. Each year it follows the five day Fast of Catechumens. Sarkis was a Greek from the area of Cappadocia on the Anatolian plain. He was a proud, brave... Read More »
