Advent Begins For Armenians

LRAPER Church Bulletin 22/11/2004
Armenian Patriarchate
TR-34130 Kumkapi, Ýstanbul
Licensee: The Revd. Fr. Drtad Uzunyan
Editors: The Revd.Dr.Krikor Damatyan,
Deacon Vagharshag Seropyan
Press Spokesperson: Attorney Luiz Bakar
T: +90 (212) 517-0970
F: +90 (212) 516-4833
E-mail: [email protected]
Advent Begins For Armenians
On 20 November the fifty-day Advent season began for Armenians at sunset on
Saturday with solemn vespers in the Holy Mother-of-God Patriarchal Church in
Kumkapi, Istanbul.
His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey,
presided over the ceremony, with the hieromonks of the Patriarchal See and
the parishioners of Kumkapi attending. The Patriarch explained that the
seven-week pre-Christmas season in the Armenian Church is called Hisnag,
meaning “the lesser fifty days of fasting and preparation,” as a comparison
to the more solemn and strict Great Lent, also fifty days, before Easter.
“During the Advent season,” explained the Patriarch, “we remember the
enduring faith of a remnant of the People of God who never failed in their
steadfastness as they waited for the coming of the Messiah, who, in the
fullness of time, was indeed born in Bethlehem. We learn perseverance from
them and are encouraged by their example as we wait for the Second Coming of
the Lord Jesus to complete the process of the salvation of mankind. The
words of the Prophet Isaiah, ‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord’ (40:3) and
Saint John the Seer, ‘Amen. Come , Lord Jesus!’ (Rev. 22:20) are the two
Biblical key verses to Advent spirituality.”
On a more practical level, the Patriarch said, Advent is a season when the
faithful prepare for the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany, commonly
called Christmas, which as an ancient tradition the Armenians still
celebrate on 5/6 January.
Following vespers, the Patriarch lit the first of the seven candles which
symbolize the seven weeks of spiritual renewal and preparation. According to
the Armenian Church tradition, the first, fourth and seventh weeks of Advent
are days of fasting or abstinence. During the Advent season children’s and
youth choirs will have weekly lessons of Christmas hymns and especially
following the Median of Advent, Christmas trees and decorations will be put
up in church halls and homes.
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< LRAPER Church Bulletin 22/11/2004 Armenian Patriarchate TR-34130 Kumkapi, Ýstanbul Licensee: The Revd. Fr. Drtad Uzunyan Editors: The Revd.Dr.Krikor Damatyan, Deacon Vagharshag Seropyan Press Spokesperson: Attorney Luiz Bakar T: +90 (212) 517-0970 F: +90 (212) 516-4833 E-mail: [email protected] > <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< --Boundary_(ID_yQXKr/7fET5+OTmbdTWVDA)-- From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress