Church Calendar

  • Good Friday – Avak Ourpat

      Good Friday (Holy Friday), commemorates Christ’s tortures, Crucifixion, Death and Burial. On Friday morning, Jesus, subjected to all kinds of humiliation, was forced personally to carry the heavy wooden cross to the heights of Golgotha. Suffering intensely, He reached Golgotha where the Crucifixion was accomplished. By midday He was already nailed to the Cross. Fixed... Read More »

  • Holy Saturday: Jrakalouyts

      The Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ starts on the eve and continues after midnight. On Holy Saturday, in the evening, the Vigil Office of the Lighting of Lamps (Jrakalooyts) commences at sundown, the entry into Easter Sunday. During this service of scripture lessons, the faithful hear the prophecies proudly heralding Christ’s Resurrection. The crossing of the Israelites... Read More »

  • Remembrance of the Dead (Hishadag Merelots)

      Merelots is the Remembrance Day of the Dead that is observed in the Armenian Apostolic Church. This remembrance day  is observed five times as far as it follows five major religious holidays. The first Merelots is on January 7 right after Christmas and Epihany that is on January 6. The next Remembrance Days to follow are Easter,... Read More »

  • Annunciation to the Virgin Mary

      On April 7, the Armenian Church celebrates one of her greatest feasts: the Annunciation to St Mary. In the Gospel of Luke we learn that the Angel Gabriel brings the good news to the Virgin about the birth of the Saviour (Lk 1:26-38). According to Holy Tradition and the Evangelist, the Angel Gabriel appears... Read More »