PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
January 14, 2014
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Christmas Celebrated at St. Vartan Cathedral
It was a cold, wet morning in New York as worshippers gathered at St. Vartan
Armenian Cathedral to celebrate the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of
Our Lord Jesus Christ on Monday, January 6. Inside the sanctuary, candles
burned bright and the warm smell of incense blunted the icy wind rushing
through the cathedral doors.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), celebrated the Divine Liturgy. Individuals as well as
families, young and old alike, took time off from work or school to worship.
Some 500 people took part in the Christmas celebration over the course of
the day’s events.
In his homily, Archbishop Barsamian said that the birth of Christ was a new
beginning for mankind, and stressed that Christmas is a time of renewal and
looking ahead. Spiritually, it is a time to strengthen our connection with
God and with fellow human beings-a time to share our goodwill with others,
he said.
In today’s age of social media, Archbishop Barsamian went on, opportunities
to reach out to others have increased, but the new technology also has
introduced unproductive, even dangerous, practices. Ultimately, it is
through our connection with Christ that we can avoid being led astray and
satisfy the human hunger for a deep, lasting, and real bond to something
greater.
The Primate was surrounded on the altar by a number of clergymen, deacons,
and seminarians. Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian; the Very Rev. Fr. Mamigon
Kiledjian, dean of St. Vartan Cathedral; cathedral priest the Very Rev. Fr.
Sooren Chinchinian; and visiting priests Rev. Fr. Bedros Kadehjian and Rev.
Fr. Gomidas Zohrabian participated in the service.
In Armenian tradition, January 6 commemorates not only the birth of Christ,
but also His baptism by John the Baptist. The latter is remembered through
the “Blessing of Water” ceremony, which followed the Divine Liturgy on
Monday.
Hratch Nersessian served as godfather (gunkahayr) of the “Blessing of Water”
service. He took up the ornate hand-cross after it was immersed in water by
Archbishop Barsamian, and held up the cross for the faithful to kiss as
they walked up to receive the water blessed with the Holy Muron (holy oil)
at the conclusion of the service.
The sacred music of the Divine Liturgy was rendered beautifully throughout
the service by the St. Vartan Cathedral Choir, under the direction of
Maestro Khoren Mekanejian. Accompanying on the organ was Florence Avakian.
After the service on January 6, a reception was held in Haik and Alice
Kavookjian Auditorium, where a traditional home-blessing ceremony was led by
Archbishop Barsamian. The faithful then stepped forward to receive blessed
nushkhars. A colorful dance performance was offered by the Akh’tamar
Armenian Dance Ensemble, under the direction of Sylva Assadourian.
Armenian Christmas Eve was observed with service on the evening of Sunday,
January 5. The celebrant was Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian. The Christmas Eve
service featured scripture readings by students from the Diocese’s Khrimian
Lyceum and St. Vartan Armenian School.
Many parishes across the Eastern Diocese also held Christmas services on
January 5 and January 6, with some performing the Blessing of Water Service
on Sunday, January 12.
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Photos attached.
Photo 1: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian performs the “Blessing of Water”
service.
Photo 2: Hratch Nersessian receives the cross during the “Blessing of Water”
service.
Photo 3: Members of the Akh’tamar Armenian Dance Ensemble perform at the
Christmas reception.
Photo 4: Very Rev. Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian celebrated the Divine Liturgy on
Christmas Eve.