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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20280723
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20280724
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UID:29846-1847923200-1848009599@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Feast of Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Vartavar)
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ is one of the five main “Tabernacle” feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It commemorates the transformation or the “transfiguration” that came over Jesus while He was praying.  Christ’s face shone like the sun and his clothes became a radiant and gleaming white. The Apostles Peter\, James and John witnessed that event which occurred on a high mountain named Tabor. \nEvangelists St Matthew\, St Mark and St Luke testify about the Transfiguration of Jesus in the Gospels (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:1-12; Luke 9:28-36).\n“… As they looked on\, a change came over Jesus: his face was shining like the sun and his clothes were dazzling white. Then the three disciples saw Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. So Peter spoke up and said to Jesus\, “Lord\, how good it is that we are here!  If you wish I will make three tents here\, one for you\, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”  \nWhile he was talking\, a shining cloud came over them\, and a voice from the cloud said\, “This is my own dear Son\, with whom I am pleased – listen to him!” \nWhen the disciples heard the voice\, they were so terrified that they threw themselves face downward on the ground. Jesus came to them and touched them. “Get up\,” he said\, “Don’t be afraid!” So they looked up and saw no one there but Jesus. (Matthew 17:2-8) \nIn the Armenian Church\, the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated 98 days following Easter. \nThe Feast is also known by the common name of  Vartavar: Festival of the Roses. Armenians would decorate the temple of the goddess Asdghig (goddess of love\, beauty\, fertility\, and water) with roses\, release doves and engage in water games on this popular pre Christian holiday. In modern times\, it’s a festival in Armenia where people drench each other with water. \nSt Gregory the Illuminator combined Vartavar with the Transfiguration. The fifth century historian Yeghishe wrote the prayer that is recited in church on this feast: “O Lord\, bless the harvest of this year and defend from all the perils\, and may your right hand\, O Lord\, protect us for the whole year.”
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/feast-of-transfiguration-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-vartavar-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Major Feasts (Daghavarner)
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Transfiguration-3.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20280813
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20280814
DTSTAMP:20260604T011733
CREATED:20211010T100633Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T103716Z
UID:29874-1849737600-1849823999@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God (Asdvadzadzin)
DESCRIPTION:  \nEach year on the Sunday closest to the date of August 15\, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of the Assumption of St. Mary\, the Holy Mother of God. In the calendar of the Armenian Church\, this feast is the fourth of five major feasts that are commemorated\, and is the oldest one dedicated to St. Mary. \nIn the Holy Bible\, there is little information concerning the details of St. Mary’s life. As a result\, the story of her Assumption has been preserved and passed on to us through the Holy and Sacred Tradition of the Apostolic Church. \nFollowing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ\, the Holy Virgin remained in Jerusalem\, and lived under the care of St. John the Evangelist. For nearly 12 years\, St. Mary lived by praying\, fasting\, and often visiting the empty tomb of her beloved Son. During one such visit to the tomb\, the Archangel Gabriel appeared and gave her the news of her imminent assumption to heaven. St. Mary relayed the news to her relatives and all Christians\, asking them to bury her in the valley of Gethsemane. St. Mary also asked the Apostle John to celebrate a Divine Liturgy\, so she may receive Holy Communion one final time. After receiving Holy Communion\, St. Mary returned to her room. As the Apostles prepared to mourn her death\, St. John asked the Mother of God to leave an image of her face on a board of wood.  St. Mary took the board\, crossed herself and brought it close to her face.  Moistening the board with her tears\, she asked God that by means of the board\, people would be cured from disease.  As the Apostles surrounded St. Mary\, an indescribable light appeared. The Son of God and the angels of heaven appeared in the room. Upon seeing Christ\, St. Mary died. \nSt. Bartholomew the Apostle was absent and did not participate in the burial service of St. Mary. Upon his return to Jerusalem\, he wished to see St. Mary for the last time. Per his request\, the Apostles opened the tomb\, yet they did not find the remains of St. Mary.  According to His promise\, Jesus Christ had delivered His mother to His heavenly kingdom. The Apostles gave the board of St. Mary to St. Bartholomew for consolation.\nAccording to Moses of Khoren\, St. Bartholomew brought the board to Armenia. It is kept in the Province of Andzav\, in a location called Darbnots. Years later\, a church was built there in honour of St. Mary and a convent was opened. \nIn the Northern Hemisphere\, on the Feast of the Assumption of St. Mary\, the Ceremony of the Blessing of the Grapes is conducted and the harvest for the entire year is blessed on that day. In Australia\, the Blessing of the Grapes takes place on the last Sunday of January as per the seasonal availability of grapes. \nThe Armenian Church has a deep and abiding respect towards St. Mary.  Special emphasis is placed on her being a mother\, her honesty\, her unique spirit of humility\, her virtuous behaviour and her unselfish dedication. For Armenian women\, the Holy Virgin is the embodiment of virtue\, pious motherhood\, and the protector of family sacredness. \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/feast-of-the-assumption-of-the-holy-mother-of-god-asdvadzadzin-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Major Feasts (Daghavarner)
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20280917
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20280918
DTSTAMP:20260604T011733
CREATED:20211009T064431Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T110017Z
UID:29919-1852761600-1852847999@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Khatchverats)
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is the last one of the five major feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is the most important feast among the feasts dedicated to the Holy Cross\, as it is dedicated to the history of the return of the Holy Cross from imprisonment\, its elevation and glorification. In the Armenian Apostolic Church the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is celebrated on Sunday during the period between September 11-17. \nThe dictionary defines “exaltation” as the state of praising highly\, or of raising something aloft to a superior position. According to early accounts\, the public adoration of the Cross of Christ\, when it was ceremoniously elevated before the faithful for veneration\, took place on three significant occasions. \nThe first occasion was by the apostle James in Jerusalem. While zealously preaching to a crowd\, he boldly raised a cross and cried out\, “We kiss the ground before your Cross\, O Christ. Lord\, you who were nailed to the Cross and shed your blood in sacrifice\, we bow down before your Cross.” \nIn the early days of Christianity\, the cross was viewed as an instrument of infamy and punishment used by the Romans. Jesus’ crucifixion was intended to stand (by the executors) as a warning that those who followed his teachings would incur severe punishment. One could not openly declare one’s Christian faith without serious consequences. Thus\, in James’ public adoration of the Cross of Christ and acknowledgment of Christ’s sacrifice\, the cross was transformed from a symbol of death to one of new life and victory. \nThe second occasion on which the Holy Cross was ceremoniously elevated before the faithful was when it was “discovered” by Queen Helena\, mother of the Emperor Constantine\, in 326 A.D. in Jerusalem. The “true cross” (the one on which Christ was crucified) was authenticated when a deceased man came alive after being placed on Christ’s cross. At that time Bishop Cyril\, the Patriarch of Jerusalem\, elevated the Holy Cross before the faithful crowd\, who witnessed the miracle and were inspired with awe. \nThe third auspicious occasion on which the Holy Cross was elevated and venerated\, was upon its return from captivity from the Persians. In the year 629 A.D. the Emperor Heraclitus\, leading a coalition of forces\, including Armenians\, recaptured the cross from the Persians and personally led his troops to return the Cross to Jerusalem. The king led the troops through Armenian lands\, a long journey from Constantinople to Jerusalem. It was an emotional experience for those Christian people of the East witnessing these events\, but especially the Armenians who had played a substantial role in the rescue of the precious cross. \nThe celebration of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the Armenian Church takes place at the end of the Divine Liturgy. With great ceremony\, the clergy\, deacons and acolytes proceed around the church holding high the gleaming gold cross\, which is adorned with sprigs of fresh basil (a symbol of royalty)\, after which an antasdan service takes place. \nIn the antasdan service\, the four corners of the church are blessed as a sign of the sanctification of the world. Similar to the Feast of the Assumption\, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross is also related to the blessing of the harvest of fruits and their preservation: a time to give thanks for God’s blessings. Following the ceremony\, parishioners customarily take home a sprig of the sweet basil and use it for its healing properties. \nFor Christians\, the Cross is God’s power and strength on which Christ’s innocent blood was shed. By means of the Cross Jesus proved His love towards mankind and the Cross became for us the symbol of hope\, love and saving.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/feast-of-the-exaltation-of-the-holy-cross-khatchverats-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Major Feasts (Daghavarner)
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