This 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. Being 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…
The Mountain of Varak, on which was built the Monastery of Varak and the Monastery of the Holy Sign, is at the centre of the uniquely Armenian feast of the Cross we celebrate as the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak (Varague). The Armenian Church celebrates this feast two weeks after the Feast of…
Besides the 12 Apostles, Jesus also had Seventy Two (72) disciples, whom he sent to “preach the Good News to all nations”. The Seventy Two Disciples are firmly rooted in Scripture, but only the Gospel of Luke mentions them. Unfortunately, those disciples’ names are not mentioned in the Gospels. In the New Testament the word…
Feast of the Holy Translators – Saints Mesrob, Yeghishe, Movses Khorenatsi (Moses of Khoren), Philosopher Davit Anhaght, Gregory of Narek (Krikor Naregatsi) and Nerses the Gracious (Nerses Shnorhali) For the Armenian people, the Feast of the Holy Translators is one of the most favourite and beloved national ecclesiastical feasts. Nearly two hundred disciples of St…
Ananais of Damascus (favoured of the Lord), was a disciple of Jesus at Damascus. He is mentioned in Acts 9:10, when the Lord speaks to him and asks him to go to Saul, place his hands on him and restore Saul’s sight. When Ananias placed his hands on Saul, he was filled with the Holy…
Dionysius the Areopagite was an Athenian judge at the Areopagus Court in Athens. He is thus also known as protector of judges and the judiciary. At the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, Dionysius was in Egypt in a town called Heliopolis (the City of the Sun) near today’s capital of Cairo. On Good Friday, the very day…
The Armenian Church commemorates the Holy Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the authors of the four Gospels. The were known as “evangelists” because they proclaimed the good news about Jesus Christ as each author provides traces and insights into Christ’s life. The word Evangelist comes from the Greek euangelistes which means “one who brings…
Feast of Saints Captain Lukianos, who believed in Christ’s Crucifixion; Joseph the Godfather; Joseph of Arimathea; Friends of Christ, Lazarus and his two sisters, Martha and Mary. The Holy Martyr Longinus the Centurion (Captain Lukianos), a Roman soldier, served in Judea under the command of the Governor, Pontius Pilate. When our Savior Jesus Christ was…
Commemoration of the Twelve Holy Doctors – Saints, Hierotheus of Athens, Dionysius of Areopagite, Silverst of Rome, Athanasius of Alexandria, Cyril of Jerusalem, Ephraem the Syrian, Vasil (Barsegh) of Caesaria, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory the Theologian, Epiphanius of Cyprus, John Chrysostom and Cyril of Alexandria The Twelve Archimandrite (Holy Doctors) or Church Fathers have been famous…
This is the crowning of the celebrations of the Holy Cross, within the cycle of an entire calendar year. The Apostolic Churches owe this important feast, upon which the other celebrations of the Cross throughout the year are established, to Queen Helena (Heghineh), the mother of Byzantine Emperor Constantine. In 327, the Queen, who was in…
St Severianos (St Severian) was a senator from Sebastia, who was both an illustrious man of wealth and a fearless Christian. During the 4th century, the Forty Holy Martyrs (Karasoun Mangounk) were imprisoned by the pagan emperor Licinius, because of their steadfast refusal to renounce their faith. St Severian showed sincere compassion for the forty…
The Pontiff St John the Chrysostom, is one of the most prominent and gracious Fathers of the Universal Church. He was born in Antioch, in 347 AD. He studied in the Theological School of Antioch and advanced his skills in public speaking in the School of Libanios. From a young age, he led an ascetic…