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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260801
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260802
DTSTAMP:20260418T233240
CREATED:20211015T064103Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T102940Z
UID:29037-1785542400-1785628799@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of St Gregory the Theologian
DESCRIPTION:  \nSt. 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 Christianity\, who by means of the struggle against Arians\, kept Christianity uncorrupted and by means of his works he has greatly influenced the formulation of the Christian theologian ideology. \nSt. Gregory the Theologian was born in 328 AD in the village Ariangue near the town of Naziangue\, of Cappadocia. He was the son of the Bishop Gregory. Gregory studied in Caesaria\, and then in Athens. In Athens Gregory became acquainted with St Barsegh of Ceasaria\, one of the future prominent figures of Christianity. After leading an ascetic life for a while\, Gregory returned to Naziangue\, where he was ordained as a priest by his father. Later he became the Bishop of Sasima. Together with St Barsegh of Ceasaria\, St Gregory the Theologian struggled against the Arians. He was known for his contributions to theological debates\, particularly regarding the Trinity\, and his literary and poetic works.  \nHe participated in the 2nd Ecumenical Council of Constantinople and was a key figure in the Nicene Creed. St. Gregory passed away on 25 January 389 AD.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-st-gregory-the-theologian-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/St-Gregory-theologian.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260808
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260809
DTSTAMP:20260418T233240
CREATED:20211025T060104Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240801T100735Z
UID:26906-1786147200-1786233599@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration Day of the 200 Pontiffs participating in the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Ecumenical Council of Ephesus was convened in 431 A.D\, during the reign of King Theodosius II (Theodosius the Younger). 200 Pontiffs participated in the Council\, with the aim of rejecting the false teachings of Nestorius\, Patriarch of Constantinople. According to his teachings there were two independent\, divine and human\, natures in Christ\, contrasting each other. Nestorius preached that Christ was born as a simple man and only later Divinity was settled on His Person. Therefore\, the Holy Virgin Mary was not “Godmother”\, but the mother of a simple man. \nThe Ecumenical Council of Ephesus condemned the teaching of Nestorius and adopted the teaching of Archbishop St Cyril of Alexandria\, which stated that the divine and human natures of Christ do not exist separately\, but are united without confusion. One Lord\, one Jesus\, one face and one united divine and human nature. \nAdditionally\, they agreed that St Mary is not the mother of a simple man\, but she is Theotokos (birth giver of God)\, as she gave birth to the Son of God. \nSt Cyril of Alexandria’s statement “One is the nature of the Incarnate Word of God”\, was thus adopted by the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus. \nThe Armenian Church did not participate in that Ecumenical Council\, but adopted its resolutions and ecumenical authority together with the previous Ecumenical Councils.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-day-of-the-200-pontiffs-participating-in-the-ecumenical-council-of-ephesus-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/200-Pontiffs.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260809
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260810
DTSTAMP:20260418T233240
CREATED:20211025T061308Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240801T101615Z
UID:26918-1786233600-1786319999@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Eve of the Fast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God
DESCRIPTION:  \nThis is the Sunday preceding the week prior to the Feast of the Assumption of St Mary\, Holy Godmother\, one of the major feasts of Armenian Apostolic Church and one of the seven feasts dedicated to St Mary. The fasting period lasts from Monday to Friday.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/eve-of-the-fast-of-the-assumption-of-the-holy-mother-of-god-2-2-2-2-2/
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:20260815
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260816
DTSTAMP:20260418T233240
CREATED:20211101T114905Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240801T102108Z
UID:26928-1786752000-1786838399@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Feast of the Apparition (Shoghakat) of Holy Etchmiadzin
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Feast of Shoghakat of Holy Etchmiadzin that is always observed on the Saturday prior to the Feast of the Assumption. Shoghakat refers to the vision of the rays of light seen by St Gregory when God chose the site for the Mother Cathedral. The feast is celebrated at the time of Assumption because the Cathedral in Etchmiadzin is named in honour of the Holy Mother\, although through the years it became known as Etchmiadzin. The name of St Shoghakat was given to the church\, according to tradition\, because it was built where “the divine light had shed” (shogh gatadz er) on the Hripsimiants virgins. \nThe foundation was laid in 301 A.D and the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin was consecrated in 303 A.D on the day of the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God. \nFor 1\,700 years\, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has been\, and continues to be\, the spiritual heart and centre of the Armenian Church and is her most sacred sanctuary. Her spiritual\, national and historical significance has only increased through the centuries.  Through the vision of St Gregory\, God Incarnate descended upon the soil of Armenia and predetermined her future\, making Armenia the first nation in the world to adopt Christianity as its official religion.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/feast-of-the-apparition-shoghakat-of-holy-etchmiadzin-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Etchmiadzin-Gregory.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260816
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260817
DTSTAMP:20260418T233240
CREATED:20211010T100633Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240801T102404Z
UID:26938-1786838400-1786924799@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/
CATEGORIES:Major Feasts (Daghavarner)
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Assumption-feast.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260823
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260824
DTSTAMP:20260418T233240
CREATED:20211025T054631Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240804T060418Z
UID:27022-1787443200-1787529599@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of the Holy Forefathers
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Septuagint (first translation of the Hebrew Old Testament)\, uses the name “Patriarch” when referring to the forefathers or ancestors of spiritual and lay leaders of the Old Testament. They are: Adam\, Abel\, Seth\, Enosh\, Enoch\, Noah\, Melchizedek\, Abraham\, Isaac\, Jacob\, Joseph\, Moses\, Aaron\, Eliezer\, Joshua\, Samuel\, Samson\, Jephthah\, Barak\, Gideon and other Holy Patriarchs. \nThe Church has classified our forefather Adam into the class of saints\, confirming the truth that Christ’s saving blood was shed for each and every person\, starting with the ancestor of all mankind. By means of the salvation of Adam\, original sin was redeemed from all who have followed him\, who repent\, believe and are baptised in the name of the Holy Trinity\, thus becoming members of the Church of Christ. \nThe word “Ancestor” is also synonymous with “Head of Tribe”.  The Holy Forefathers\, as heads of tribes\, played a very important role. Many of them lived hundreds of years and influenced their families and tribal members. Their minds and souls sustained a desire to become closer to divine existence and live a God pleasing life. Feeling the presence of God\, they advised\, warned and taught the people to stay away from sinful ways. Due to their saintly way of life\, they continue to be vivid examples for us. The ultimate goal of their lives was the realisation of God’s omnipotent will on earth.  Acting as mediators with God\, they gave us a closer relationship with God. In our present day and current times\, their sacred desire to achieve justice and fairness is a valuable lesson for all. \nWe commemorate the Holy Forefathers to stress the fact that we are not celebrating some myth\, legend or story that has come down to us. Rather we are observing an historical intervention of the Almighty into human history. This coming of Jesus Christ was foretold\, it was awaited\, it was prayed for\, it was expected and it occurred.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-the-holy-forefathers-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260825
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260826
DTSTAMP:20260418T233240
CREATED:20211025T062855Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240801T102730Z
UID:26948-1787616000-1787702399@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of Saints Joachim and Anna and the Oil Bringing Women
DESCRIPTION:  \nSt Anna and St Joachim\, the parents of St Mary\, are not mentioned by name in Holy Scripture. There is\, however\, a wealth of oral tradition concerning them. St Anna was a descendant of the royal line of King David. As she grew up\, she was espoused to a God fearing\, God loving man named Joachim\, who lived near Nazareth. \nThis holy couple lived in great faith\, simplicity and humility for twenty years without being blessed with children. Among the Jews this was viewed as a disgrace and a chastisement from heaven. Joachim and Anna were very unhappy because they had no children\, but they never complained to the Lord\, instead\, they prayed continually that a child would be born to them. In sincere humility Joachim and Anna submitted to divine will. \nConfidence in the goodness of God sustained them in their bitterest moments\, and as they advanced into middle age they redoubled their offerings to God in the hope of obtaining grace from heaven. One day after long prayers and abundant tears\, St Anna suddenly remembered having read in the Holy Scripture that the mother of Samuel\, who like herself was named Anna\, had made a vow that if she should be blessed with a child\, she would dedicate it to God. St Anna followed her example. From the depth of her heart she uttered the same words pronounced by her saintly ancestor. St Joachim went into the desert to devote himself to prayer and fasting. St Anna performed the same devotion in her own house. St Joachim spent forty days in the desert. His grief soon turned into joy. An angel of the Lord came to him and said: “Joachim\, you have been a faithful servant of God. The Most High from his throne in heaven has heard your prayers and longings. He will grant to you and your devout companion more than you have asked for. For behold Anna shall conceive and bring forth a daughter who shall be blessed among women and she shall be called Mary. This shall be a sign to you; namely\, when you go to Jerusalem\, you will meet your wife before the gate which is called golden.”  \nAbout the same time an angel appeared to St Anna and brought her the same joyful tidings. Without knowledge of the other’s revelation\, Joachim and Anna rose up and went to the temple to give thanks to God. They met each other at the Golden Gate that stands behind the temple. Together they entered the temple with great joy and offered up a lamb. With humble prayers they thanked God for the great honour bestowed upon them. \nA daughter\, Mary (meaning illuminated)\, was born to them\, and they did not forget their promise to dedicate the child to the service of God. When Mary was three years old\, her parents took her to the temple where she was dedicated. Tradition tells us that she stayed there in the care of devoted women until she was betrothed at about the age of fourteen. \nThe Oil Bringing Women are the witnesses of Christ’s torments. They are the first to give the good tidings of the Resurrection of our Lord. These women followed Christ during His earthly mission. The church calls them “Oil-Bringing Women” because on the Sunday morning\, following Christ’s death\, they hurried to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus by the aromatic oils they had prepared. Due to their devoutness they were the first to see the Risen God\, which they conveyed to the Apostles. \nThey were also present during Pentecost and\, together with the Apostles\, received the graces of the Holy Spirit. \nThe Armenian Apostolic Church commemorates the memory of St Joachim and St Anna together with the Oil Bringing Women. \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-saints-joachim-and-anna-and-the-oil-bringing-women-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260827
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260828
DTSTAMP:20260418T233240
CREATED:20211025T071225Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240801T103107Z
UID:26958-1787788800-1787875199@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of the Prophet Jeremiah
DESCRIPTION:  \nSt Jeremiah is one of the major prophets of the Bible. He was the son of Hilkiah\, one of the priests of the town Anathoth\, not far from Jerusalem. He lived and preached in Jerusalem. Feeling the calling to serve God he devoutly served\, refusing to marry and have his own family. \nHis life straddled the 7th and 6th centuries before Christ\, making him a contemporary of the Athenian lawgiver Solon. Jeremiah received his prophetic calling in a time of great promise: the reign of the godly king Josiah\, during which a lost book of Moses (eventually known as Deuteronomy) was rediscovered\, and a movement of spiritual renewal awakened among the Hebrew people. \nHowever when Josiah died in battle\, his successors were weak and wasteful and Jeremiah’s generation saw its worst fears realised: the conquest of their holy city\, Jerusalem and the bitter exile of a nation from its homeland. \nJeremiah documented his painful experiences in the Old Testament book of his name\, as well as in the aptly titled book of Lamentations. As a result\, he became known to the ages as the “weeping prophet.”  Jeremiah’s vivid\, sorrowful prophecies were picked up by the evangelist St Matthew in his telling of Christ’s life (“Rachel weeping for her children” at Mt 2:17; “thirty pieces of silver” at Mt 27:9).  Today\, we derive the word “jeremiad”\, meaning a long\, mournful complaint\, from this sombre figure. \nYet even in defeat\, Jeremiah was something other than a voice of doom. To his people he spoke with the words of God; and they were words of hope\, not despair. Consider this inspiring passage by the prophet\, in which God speaks to a dispirited nation in exile: \n“For surely I know the plans I have for you\, says the Lord: plans for your welfare and not for harm\, to give you a future with hope.  Then\, when you call upon me and come and pray to me\, I will hear you.  When you search for me\, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart\, I will let you find me\, says the Lord.  And I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you\, says the Lord.  And I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”  (Jer 29:11-14) \nJeremiah’s words and example have held special meaning for Armenian Christians\, as we have witnessed St Gregory of Narek\, who borrowed the title “Lamentations” for his own masterpiece of mystical poetry.  The similarities between the travails of Jeremiah’s time and the experiences of our own people hardly need to be enumerated. \nThe more important similarity\, of course\, is the spirit of hope\, grounded in a loving\, fatherly God\, which allows people to endure\, overcome\, and live on\, whether in the 6th century B.C\, the 20th century A.D\, or today. \nRef: Christopher H. Zakian @ vemkar.us
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-the-prophet-jeremiah-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Jeremiah.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260829
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260830
DTSTAMP:20260418T233240
CREATED:20211026T051655Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240801T103430Z
UID:26968-1787961600-1788047999@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Commemoration of St Thomas
DESCRIPTION:  \nSt Thomas was born a Jew and was called to be one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. His name in Aramaic (Te’oma) and Greek (Didymos) means “twin”. John 11:16 identifies him as “Thomas\, called the Twin”. However\, we do not know of his twin or how he came to have this name. \nHe was a dedicated but impetuous follower of Christ. When Jesus said He was returning to Judea to visit His sick friend Lazarus\, Thomas immediately exhorted the other Apostles to accompany Him on the trip which involved certain danger and possible death because of the mounting hostility of the authorities (John 11:16). \nAt the Last Supper\, when Christ told His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them to which they also might come\, because they knew both the place and the way\, Thomas said “Lord\, we don’t know where you are going\, so how can we know the way?” to which he received the beautiful reply from Jesus “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). \nSt Thomas is however\, most popularly known by his nickname “Doubting Thomas”\, due to his demand for tangible evidence in order to believe that Jesus was alive. \nThe Gospel of John alone includes the incident of the appearance of the risen Lord to Thomas (John 20:24-29). This story presents the relation between ‘seeing’ and ‘believing’\, where Thomas stands as a believer who believes after seeing the risen Christ. Thomas’ confession of Jesus as “My Lord and My God” is considered as the utterance of a staunch believer with renewed experience of the divine presence. Thomas’ determination to see and touch the Lord connects us directly with the resurrection belief. His statement “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were\, and put my hand into his side\, I will not believe.” (John 20:25)\, proves that he was a witness of Jesus’ crucifixion. He saw that Jesus was nailed in his hands and other parts of the body and secondly\, he saw that Jesus was pierced in his side by the soldiers. \nSt Thomas is believed to have travelled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel\, travelling as far as South India. He is often regarded as the patron saint of India and the name Thomas remains quite popular amongst the Christians of the Indian subcontinent. St Thomas is thought to have been martyred at St Thomas Mount in Chennai around 72AD. \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/commemoration-of-st-thomas-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260829
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260830
DTSTAMP:20260418T233240
CREATED:20211026T060816Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240801T103840Z
UID:26978-1787961600-1788047999@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-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/James-Simon.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260830
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260831
DTSTAMP:20260418T233240
CREATED:20211101T112725Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240804T081018Z
UID:27050-1788048000-1788134399@armenianchurchsydney.org.au
SUMMARY:Discovery of the Belt of St Mary (Theotokos)
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Belt (Girdle) of the Blessed Virgin Mary\, today divided into three pieces\, is the only remaining relic of her earthly life. According to tradition\, the belt was made out of camel hair by the Virgin Mary herself\, and at her Assumption\, she gave it to the Apostle Thomas. According to Tradition\, the Apostle Thomas was the only apostle absent at the Assumption of the Mother of God. He was grieved to learn of this\, but suddenly found himself witnessing the Virgin’s ascent to Heaven. He pleaded with her to give him a blessing; she untied her belt and gave it to him. \nDuring the time of the early Church\, when Christians were persecuted\, St Mary’s possessions were kept hidden and secret. Her belt was the first item to be discovered in Jerusalem in the fifth century. This discovery is the basis for one of the eight feast days in the Armenian liturgical calendar devoted to the Holy Mother. \nDuring the early centuries of the Christian era it was kept at Jerusalem and in the 4th century we hear of it at Zela in Cappadocia. In the same century\, Theodosius the Great brought it back to Jerusalem\, and from there his son Arcadius took it to Constantinople. There it was originally deposited in the Chalcoprateion church\, whence it was transferred by the Emperor Leo to the Vlachernae church (458). During the reign of Leo VI ‘the Wise’ (886-912)\, it was taken to the Palace\, where it cured his sick wife\, the Empress Zoe. \nThe Empress had a vision that she would be healed of her infirmity if the Belt of the Mother of God were placed upon her. The Emperor then asked the Patriarch to open the coffer. The Patriarch removed the seal and opened the coffer in which the relic was kept and the Belt of the Mother of God appeared completely whole and undamaged by time. The Patriarch placed the Belt on the sick Empress\, and immediately she was freed from her infirmity. They sang hymns of thanksgiving to the Most Holy Theotokos\, then they placed the venerable Belt back into the coffer and resealed it. The Empress\, as an act of thanksgiving to the Mother of God\, embroidered the whole girdle with gold thread\, giving it the appearance which it bears today. \nParts of the Holy Belt are in the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos\, in Trier Monastery and in Georgia. \nThe Armenian Church celebrates the Discovery of the Belt of Theotokos on the second Sunday after Assumption.
URL:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/event/discovery-of-the-belt-of-st-mary-theotokos-2-2-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Feasts & Commemorations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Mary-Belt.jpg
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