New (Renewal) Sunday

New Sunday or Renewal Sunday (Nor Giragi) is also called Second Easter (Grgnazadig), which means “Easter repeated” as it is the eighth day of Easter and a day similar to Easter in readings and hymns.

The significance of the Resurrection of our Lord is essential to our faith, we are given a new life with our Risen Saviour. This message is conveyed and re-enforced visibly and liturgically also on Sunday following Easter. We are renewed as new creatures with Christ’s resurrection, “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

One of our Church fathers and a great theologian, St Gregory of Tatev, explains that there are three reasons for calling this feast New Sunday. The first one is liberation. We are free from all the chains of sin and renewed by the blood of God. The second reason is the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. With His Resurrection Christ conquered death making us new creatures redeemed by the grace of God. Lastly, it is called a New Sunday for Salvation. We have a renewed hope for forgiveness of our sins. St. Gregory of Tatev elaborated further that New Sunday is a reminder of the joy and celebration of Easter that’s why it is called Grgnazadig, Easter again.

Ref: Vemkar.us