CHRISTMAS IS CELEBRATED TODAY IN ARMENIA

- Its Holiness, Christmas begins on the evening of January 5, when the holy and immortal liturgy of Candlemas is served in all churches. Can you tell me what sacrament it has?

- The Holy Armenian Apostolic Church starts the Christmas celebration on the evening of January 5, because according to the church ritual, the day changes after the liturgy. That evening, a holy and immortal liturgy of Candlemas is celebrated in all churches. It is the first of the main holidays of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church. Christians, taking with them the lit lamps from churches after the liturgy, bring light, warmth, and the good news of the holy nativity. This is the sacrament of the holiday.

- On January 6, a water blessing ritual is held. What does it symbolize?

- The Armenian Apostolic Holy Church is the only one that celebrates Christmas and Epiphany on the same day, which symbolizes the St. Baptism of Christ in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. During the baptism, the Holy Spirit descended from heaven in the form of a dove on Christ, and the voice of God the Father was heard. Thus, the Holy Trinity visibly appeared to people. It is not by chance that the Christmas greeting sounds like this: "Christ was born and appeared, good news for you and us", equally emphasizing the importance of the Nativity and the Epiphany. At the end of the Christmas liturgy, a water blessing ritual is performed in the church in memory of the Epiphany, then the blessed water is distributed to people.

– The Christmas celebration is followed by a Christmas house blessing ritual. For what purpose is it done?

- The blessing is done throughout the year, but mainly after two holidays: Christmas and Holy Resurrection. According to the "Mashtots" breviary, there are three types of house blessing: Christmas, Holy Resurrection, and the one for a newly built apartment. The purpose of the blessing is to bring the good news of Christmas and the Holy Resurrection to people's families.

Marine Mkrtchyan