In fostering some of our age old Armenian customs and traditions, harissa was served last Sunday to parishioners, on the Feastday of Khachverats, following the Divine Liturgy.
Harissa is a traditional Armenian dish known from ancient times and is cooked for religious days as a charity meal. Whilst it is considered a national dish of Armenia, also called keshkeg, it is specifically associated with the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Khachverats) in Armenian communities in the Middle East.
The ACLA with the help of George Khoulmounian prepared and distributed the harissa to the church faithful. The long cooking process is an essential part of the harissa tradition. As a ritual dish, it is prepared with prayer and blessing and the time taken for preparation is part of its cherished value.
A special thanks to AGBU Alexander Primary School who provided the coffee service on the day.
