PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
View photos here:
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PILGRIMAGE DAY IN ANTELIAS
THE GLORIOUS APPEAL OF THE HOLY RIGHT
As a consequence of the gradual geographical relocation of Armenians in
Lebanon, the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias came to be increasingly
surrounded by Armenian families particularly in the last few years. Several
Armenian neighborhoods became emptied of their inhabitants, who, moving to
apartments in Antelias and nearby regions, allowed others to take charge of
construction in their previous neighborhoods. The latter were often
restructured into companies and workplaces.
Nevertheless, this unfavourable relocation, which weakened the close and
attached family environment, also had a positive consequence: The
Headquarters of the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias
became surrounded by Armenians in its Lebanese homeland. The apartments on
the hills surrounded by the Catholicosate became heavily populated by
Armenians like thin yet vibrant veins in the heart of Armenians.
When the Catholicosate and its Holy See were permanently established in
the Antelias seaside in Lebanon in 1930, the newly built St. Gregory the
Illuminator Cathedral and the Catholicosate’s structures were, for a long
time, the only high buildings visible among the orange trees.
Thus, being far from the Armenian-populated areas by the standards of the
time, the Cathedral was absent of large numbers of believers during its
Sunday Holy liturgies. Only Armenians living in nearby villages were able to
attend, while large crowds filled the Cathedral and its surrounding orange
fields merely on Holidays. Today, however, the Cathedral and its
surroundings are filled every Sunday with the faithful, who participate in
the Holy Liturgy.
Among those holidays, the Catholicosate’s "Pilgrimage Day", celebrated for
the first time on 22 March 1931 during the tenure of the late Catholicos
Sahag II Khabayian, still has unique importance. The naming of the
Catholicosate’s Cathedral after Saint Gregory the Illuminator provided the
opportunity for Armenians to come in large numbers to Antelias for
pilgrimage once a year.
However, they were not to dedicate that pilgrimage to the earth, water or
air, but to a much more valuable asset, the holiest relic of the Armenian
Church, the Blessed Right Hand of St. Gregory the Illuminator. This relic
signifies the glory and sacredness of the Armenian Church. It was kept in a
special chapel in the Saint Sophia Cathedral in the Cilician capital of Sis,
named after Saint Gregory and preserved by the Atchabahian family.
The reports and accounts of the Antelias "Pilgrimage Day" published in the
Armenian newspapers and magazines during the last 70 years portray emotional
pictures. Considering the difficulties in transport means during those days
when the Antelias Cathedral seemed far from the Armenian-populated areas and
civic center, old men and women, young people and teens would take the train
to Antelias starting in the early morning hours. Others with special vows in
their hearts would walk bare feet to Antelias to kiss the Holy Right Hand of
Saint Gregory. The pilgrims would spend the entire day in the Antelias, on
the seaside or in the fields surrounding the Cathedral, have lunch at the
banks of the Ain Nabi fountain and return home with cheers on the last train
back.
The founder of the "Pilgrimage Day", the late Pontiff Sahag II also made
provisions for a solemn procession during which all the Catholicosate’s holy
relics- the Right Hands of Saint Nicolas, Saint Seghpesdros and the Saint
Barsam Hermit, a piece of the Wood of Life (Holy Cross), the relics of Saint
Vosgeperan and Saint Hagop of Misibin and others- would be brought out to
provide spiritual satisfaction to believers.
Brought from the Catholicosate’s former headquarters in Sis to its new
home in Antelias on the back of mules and with great sacrifice, the Right
Hand relic of the Armenian Church’s Patron Saint floats, during the
"Pilgrimage Day", on the waves of believers, firmly held in the hands of the
Catholicos.
The gold-coated relic is brought out of the Cathedral with the Procession,
attracting all eyes with its glorious mysteriousness while the Pontiff, a
descendent of Saint Gregory and a worthy heir to his throne, blesses
believers with it. Colorful handkerchiefs, women’s headscarves and various
other cloths in the hands of believers try to reach out to the victorious
Right Hand to receive and share its blessing with a sick person, someone
suffering in a hospital or those who could not attend the service.
Respect towards this holy tradition of the Catholicosate of Cilicia grew
even further, when, on several unfortunate occasions in history dark hands
abducted the Holy relic with the false perception they were rendering the
Armenian Church and the its Holy See illegitimate.
However, who could have hidden this God-given sanctity of the Armenian
nation? One could only bow, pray and beg for forgiveness before its
pontifical appeal. It was this appeal that made the Holy Right Hand reappear
and today the eyes of our nation’s children are fixated on it, for who can
block light or look directly into the sun without having shy eyelids? The
holy relic’s pontifical appeal renders us modest, teaches us to bow before
God-given sanctities and advises us to pray both for acquaintances and
foreigners.
Saint Gregory the Illuminator is not a mere name in the pages of the
Armenian Church’s history. Our Church’s and nation’s Patron Saint of all
times- past and future- Saint Gregory will continue guiding the Armenian
Church and nation with his Right Hand’s mysterious glory. This glory’s
strength touches the hearts of all those believers who kiss it, who often
water its gold cover with the tears bursting from their faith rooted in
Saint Gregory.
Following His Holiness Aram I’s decision, our people will, from now on,
permanently be able to enjoy the presence of the sacred relic in the
Cathedral in Antelias. The Holy Relic will be placed in the glass box built
specially for it on the Holy Trinity altar of the Cathedral. In addition to
their annual visit to the Saint’s Right Hand, believers will now be able to
kiss the Saint’s Relic every day, presenting their wishes to the
much-suffered Pontiff.
This year our meeting with the Right Hand during "Pilgrimage Day" will be
historical and will thus present a double opportunity for spiritual renewal,
when the Relic of St. Gregory is publicly placed in its permanent resting
place by His Holiness Aram I. This, however, will in no way lessen the Right
Hand’s mysterious glory, which will bring us closer to each other as
children of one nation belonging to one Church during "Pilgrimage Day" every
year.
V. REV. FR. KRIKOR CHIFTJIAN