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X-WR-CALNAME:Armenian Apostolic Church of Holy Resurrection
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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Armenian Apostolic Church of Holy Resurrection
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230902
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230903
DTSTAMP:20260505T024301
CREATED:20211026T060816Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211026T062035Z
UID:20808-1693612800-1693699199@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of Apostles St James and St Simon
DESCRIPTION:  \nSt James is one of three people named James mentioned in the New Testament. He was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and is referred to as James son of Alphaeus to distinguish him from James son of Zebedee\, one of Jesus’ closest disciples\, who was martyred in Acts 12:2. \nThe New Testament only mentions James son of Alphaeus four times in the lists of the disciples (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). He is thought to also be James the “Less” or “Lesser”\, who is mentioned in the gospels in relation to his mother\, Mary of Clopas (John 19:25). The third James mentioned in the New Testament is James\, brother of Jesus\, also known as James the Just. \nTradition implies that it was James the Less who may have taken the gospel to Persia (modern Iran) and was martyred there. But other than that possibility\, James the son of Alphaeus is the picture of obscure service. \nSt Simon\, the Patriot Apostle\, is also known as Simon the Zealot because when Jesus called him\, he was a member of the Zealots political movement. The Zealots were a party zealous for Jewish independence and throwing off Roman rule. In Matthew 10:4\, he is called “Simon the Canaanite” being a political term rather than a reference to a region. \nLike James son of Alphaeus\, Simon the Zealot is only mentioned four times in the New Testament\, in places where the names of the disciples are listed. Beyond this\, there is no other information given about him. \nTradition says that Simon the Zealot preached the gospel in Persia and was ultimately killed for refusing to sacrifice to the sun god. \nThe lack of information about James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot is a lesson in itself. They were both just as much apostles as were Peter and John. They will sit on a throne in Jesus’ earthly kingdom (Matthew 19:28) with as much authority and honour as the other apostles. \nJames the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot are an encouragement to those of us called to lives of obscurity. Our callings are just as sure\, just as God honouring\, but few will ever know our names on earth. God honours Faithfulness (Luke 18:8)\, Love (1John 4:16)\, Endurance (Matthew 24:13)\, Obedience (Matthew 7:21)\, and Sacrifice (Galatians 2:20). While some apostles wrote books of the Bible and others were featured regularly in the gospels\, it appears that James and Simon were quietly faithful to their Lord. For that\, they will be equally honoured for all eternity.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-apostles-st-james-and-st-simon-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230908
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230909
DTSTAMP:20260505T024301
CREATED:20211026T124950Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211026T125012Z
UID:20915-1694131200-1694217599@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Birth of St Mary from Anna
DESCRIPTION:  \nJoachim and Anna of Nazareth were married and childless for fifty years. Now advanced in age\, and in what seemed to be a hopeless\, impossible situation\, they both prayed and made special vows in order for God to bless them with a child. \nOnce\, when Anna went to the garden to pray\, God’s Angel appeared to her and told her that she will have a baby. Anna thanked God for hearing her prayers and promised to present her baby to God. Joachim also had the same vision. He also rendered glory to God for making him deserving of that grace. \nAs the result of their prayer and humility\, the impossible became possible: Anna’s barrenness was transformed into fertility\, and what came forth was the birth of their only child\, Mary\, meaning “illuminated”\,  a conception nothing short of a miracle. \nIt was Mary whom God granted the grace to be the Mother of God. As a mother she worried\, suffered for her Son\, but never opposed God\, very well understanding the importance of the mission entrusted to her by our Lord.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/birth-of-st-mary-from-anna-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230909
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230910
DTSTAMP:20260505T024301
CREATED:20211026T111716Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211026T111736Z
UID:20884-1694217600-1694303999@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of 318 Pontiffs participating in the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea
DESCRIPTION:  \nThis council is the First Ecumenical Council in the history of the Church. It was the great religious discussion of the 4th century: a gathering of Christian bishops from throughout the world\, convened by no less than on authority than the Roman Emperor Constantine I. \nThe reason for convening the council was because of the viewpoints of priest Arios of Alexandria\, who denied the Divinity of Christ and thus the entire Christian doctrine was endangered. Archbishop Alexander of Alexandria was opposed to Arianism. In his sermons he stressed that God is eternal and the Son is eternal\, Father and Son are of the same time. Father does not precede the Son even for a moment\, Father has always existed and Son has always existed. \nIn 325 AD\, a town in the Black-Sea province of Bithynia played host to 318 scholars of the church who met to deliberate on the burning theological questions of the day. The false teaching of Arios (Arianism) was condemned during the first Ecumenical Council and it was declared to be heresy. \nWe remember it today as the Council of Nicaea: the first attempt to forge a truly “ecumenical” Christianity\, that is\, a Christianity that encompassed all the world’s human habitations by coming to a consensus on church doctrine. \nThe most significant result of the council was the Nicene Creed: the first uniform expression of Christian doctrine. The Creed would be elaborated upon in subsequent councils\, but its essential form\, conceived during that historic gathering in Nicaea\, remains the fundamental statement of orthodox faith\, embraced by churches throughout the world and repeated during every Armenian badarak as the Havadamk (“We believe”). \nThe Armenian Church participated in the council\, with St. Aristakes\, the younger son of S. Gregory the Illuminator\, representing his then ailing father. \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-318-pontiffs-participating-in-the-ecumenical-council-of-nicaea-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230910
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230911
DTSTAMP:20260505T024301
CREATED:20211026T122350Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211026T122409Z
UID:20893-1694304000-1694390399@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Eve of the Fast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross
DESCRIPTION:  \nThis is the Sunday preceding the week prior to the Exaltation of the life giving Cross of the Lord. Fasting period is from Monday to Friday.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/eve-of-the-fast-of-exaltation-of-the-holy-cross-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230916
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230917
DTSTAMP:20260505T024301
CREATED:20211027T001146Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211027T002629Z
UID:20927-1694822400-1694908799@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Eve of the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Saturday preceding the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy cross is called The Eve of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This day\, and the following Tuesday\, Wednesday and Thursday are also known as the Feast of the Holy Churches. Each of these days celebrate four different churches. \nThe commemoration on the Eve of the Feast of Exaltation\, is of the Navagadik (Dedication) of the Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection (Holy Sepulchre) in Jerusalem. \nThe site of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is identified as the place both of the crucifixion and the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth. The church has long been a major pilgrimage center for Christians all around the world. \nAccording to the New Testament\, Jesus was crucified at Golgotha\, “the place of the skull” (Matt. 27:33–35; Mark 15:22–25; John 19:17–24). This has been identified as an area of abandoned stone quarries just outside the city wall of the time. \nAbout 10 years after the crucifixion\, a third wall was built that enclosed the area of the execution and burial within the city\, and this accounts for the Holy Sepulchre’s location inside the Old City of Jerusalem today. \nThe Roman emperor Constantine I\, a convert to Christianity\, had the temple of Venus in Jerusalem demolished to make way for a church. In the course of the demolition a tomb was discovered that was thought to be the tomb of Jesus. \nThe rock cut tomb was initially open to the elements\, but later it was protected by a small building. \nIn 326 AD\, Constantine’s mother\, Saint Helena\, made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem\, where\, according to legend\, she discovered the relic of the cross of Jesus (the “True Cross”). The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was then built at the site of the discovery\, by order of Helena and Constantine. The church was dedicated nine years later\, with a portion of the cross placed inside it. \nIn 614 AD\, a Persian army destroyed the church and the True Cross was taken away\, but in 631 AD\, the Byzantine emperor Heraclius negotiated its return. The Sacred Cross was restored to its place in the Church of Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. \nTo commemorate this victory\, in the seventh century A.D\, the Church of Rome adopted the “Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross”. \nIn the 11th century a cave deep below the ruins of the basilica came to be known as the Chapel of the Invention  (Finding) of the Cross. \nToday\, if you enter the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and go down a big staircase\, you come to the Chapel of St Helena\, owned by the Armenians. \nDescend more steps and you will stand in the dark Chapel of the Invention (Finding) of the Cross. The Greeks have the right side of the chapel. The left side belongs to the Catholics; their altar features a life sized bronze statue of St Helena holding a cross.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/eve-of-the-feast-of-exaltation-of-the-holy-cross-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230917
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230918
DTSTAMP:20260505T024301
CREATED:20211009T064431Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211026T123358Z
UID:20905-1694908800-1694995199@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/
CATEGORIES:Major Feasts (Daghavarner)
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230924
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230925
DTSTAMP:20260505T024301
CREATED:20211027T003755Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211027T003818Z
UID:20942-1695513600-1695599999@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Eve of the Fast of the Holy Cross of Varak (Varague)
DESCRIPTION:  \nThis is the Sunday preceding the week prior to the feast of the Appearance of the Holy Cross on Mount Varak (Varague)\, lasting from Monday to Friday. \nBeing hidden by St Hripisime on Mount Varak\, the relic of the Lord’s Wooden Cross was found by a miracle in the 7th century and the Armenian Apostolic Church established another purely national feast dedicated to the Holy Cross\, which is known as the Holy Cross of Varak.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/eve-of-the-fast-of-the-holy-cross-of-varak-varague-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:20230930
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231001
DTSTAMP:20260505T024301
CREATED:20211027T043740Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211027T044142Z
UID:20967-1696032000-1696118399@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of St George (Kevork) the Captain\, St Adoktos and St Romanos the Singer
DESCRIPTION:St George the Warrior (Sourp Kevork/Gevorg Zoravar in Armenian) is revered all over the world. He is one of the beloved saints of the Armenian Church\, whose life serves as an example of remaining faithful to God even under the harshest circumstances \nEarly Christian tradition tells us that St George was born to Christian parents in the late third century. After his father was martyred for his faith\, his mother took the little boy back to her hometown Diospolis\, now in the modern city of Lod in Israel. \nSt George became a soldier in the Roman army\, and his bravery and discipline made him the climb ranks to become a Captain. St George was steadfast in his faith\, and\, as a Christian\, refused to bring the pagan sacrifice to the Roman emperor Diocletianus\, which was venerating the emperor as a god. He was tortured and martyred around 303 AD. \nWhile Saint George was being tortured\, Alexandra\, the King’s wife\, went to the arena\, bowed before George\, and professed her faith openly. When she questioned whether she was worthy of paradise and martyrdom without being baptised\, Saint George told her\, “Do not fear\, for your blood will baptise you.” She was denounced as a Christian and imprisoned on her husband’s orders then sentenced to death. \nSt George is often portrayed slaying a dragon. Christian tradition recounts that in a certain city\, a dragon pestered the inhabitants\, demanding two sheep a day. When there were no more sheep in the village\, the vicious dragon demanded a human sacrifice. \nThe inhabitants cast lots\, and the daughter of the city’s governor was chosen. When they were taking the crying girl to the dragon’s den\, St George passed by. When he heard what was about to happen\, he decided to intervene. He followed the girl into the den\, crossed himself with prayer and slew the fire spitting dragon before it could attack. The citizens were in awe and recognised God’s powerful works. That day many were baptised and became Christians. \nSt George sets us an example in bravery\, steadfastness and strong faith. \nSt Adoktos (Adauctus) was martyred in 320 AD. He was from Ephesus and was appointed governor by Emperor Maximin. Maximin asked Callisthene (Kalistene)\, the daughter of Adoktos\, to marry him\, but her father did not want to give her to an idolater. For being Christian\, upon the King’s order\, Adoktos was deprived of his title and property and exiled to Melitene. The local governor of Melitene also failed to convert Adoktos to the heathen religion. Remaining steadfast and unshaken in his faith\, St Adoktos was beheaded. \nHis daughter Callisthene disguised herself as a young man and concealed herself in Nicomedia. She later on went to Thrace where she lodged with a family. Callisthene healed their blind daughter and the girl’s parents\, who considered Callisthene to be a man\, asked him to marry her. Then St Callisthene revealed the truth and they praised God. \nCallisthene decided to leave in order to follow an ascetic way of life with humility. At the time\, she met Constantia (Costantsa) the sister of Constantine the Great. The emperor defended and protected Callisthene and she managed to take back her father’s property and also to transfer his relics to Ephesus. She built a Church there in order to pay homage to him. \nSt Romanos the Singer (the Melodist) is considered to be the author and creator of more than 1\,000 hymns or kontakia (hymns performed in Orthodox traditions). \nAccording to legend\, Romanos (Romanus) was not at first considered to be either a talented reader or singer. He was however\, loved by the Patriarch of Constantinople\, because of his great humility. Once\, around the year 518\, while serving in the Church of the Panagia at Blachernae\, during the All-Night Vigil for the Feast of the Nativity of Christ\, he was assigned to read the kathisma verses from the Psalter. He read so poorly that another reader had to take his place. Some of the lesser clergy ridiculed Romanos for this\, and being humiliated he sat down in one of the choir stalls. Overcome by weariness and sorrow\, he soon fell asleep. As he slept\, the Theotokos (Mother of God) appeared to him with a scroll in her hand. She commanded him to eat the scroll\, and as soon as he did so\, he awoke. He immediately received a blessing from the Patriarch\, mounted the pulpit and chanted extemporaneously his famous Kontakion of the Nativity\, “Today the Virgin gives birth to Him Who is above all being….”  \nThe emperor\, the patriarch\, the clergy\, and the entire congregation were amazed at both the profound theology of the hymn and Romanos’ clear\, sonorous voice as he sang. According to tradition\, this was the very first kontakion ever sung. The Greek word “kontakion” refers to the shaft on which a scroll is wound\, hence the significance of the Theotokos’ command for him to swallow a scroll\, indicating that his compositions were by divine inspiration. St. Romanos passed away in 556 A. D \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-saints-kevork-gevorg-the-captain-adoktos-and-romanos-the-singer-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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