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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: http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/Arme nian.htm
"THE FEASTS OF THE CHURCH AND THEIR ACCOMPANYING TRADITIONS ARE NOT
ACTIVITIES,
BUT SPIRITUAL MESSAGES TO TRANSMIT TO OUR CHILDREN"
SAID HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
On February 13 2009 the Armenian Orthodox Church celebrated the eve of the
feast of the "Presentation of Jesus to the Temple" by His parents.
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral of the Armenian Catholicosate was
full and lively particularly with young mothers and their children, parents
and grand parents had brought their children to "offer them" to the Church
and receive its blessings.
In his message Catholicos Aram I said that the parents of Jesus brought
their child to the House of God in order to affirm that the Child belongs to
the Church and therefore, he/she should grow in the Church with God-given
wisdom and grace. "Your presence in this Cathedral today, confirms this
conviction that our children are the children of God and will grow in our
Church, with the spiritual and moral values taught by the Church, and that
they will respond to the challenges coming from our societies clothed by the
teachings of our Church."
In the Armenian Orthodox Church, celebrations on the eve of the feast of the
"Presentation of Jesus to the Temple" is concluded with a very ancient
tradition of lighting bonfire. After the prayers, the clergy and
congregation walk in procession to the place where the bonfire is lit, and
they walk around the bonfire three times, symbolizing purification by light.
At the end of the round, people take the light from the Church to their
homes in specially prepared torches.
##
View the photos here:
http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/Pho tos/Photos358.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.
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: http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/Arme nian.htm
"THE FEASTS OF THE CHURCH AND THEIR ACCOMPANYING TRADITIONS ARE NOT
ACTIVITIES,
BUT SPIRITUAL MESSAGES TO TRANSMIT TO OUR CHILDREN"
SAID HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
On February 13 2009 the Armenian Orthodox Church celebrated the eve of the
feast of the "Presentation of Jesus to the Temple" by His parents.
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral of the Armenian Catholicosate was
full and lively particularly with young mothers and their children, parents
and grand parents had brought their children to "offer them" to the Church
and receive its blessings.
In his message Catholicos Aram I said that the parents of Jesus brought
their child to the House of God in order to affirm that the Child belongs to
the Church and therefore, he/she should grow in the Church with God-given
wisdom and grace. "Your presence in this Cathedral today, confirms this
conviction that our children are the children of God and will grow in our
Church, with the spiritual and moral values taught by the Church, and that
they will respond to the challenges coming from our societies clothed by the
teachings of our Church."
In the Armenian Orthodox Church, celebrations on the eve of the feast of the
"Presentation of Jesus to the Temple" is concluded with a very ancient
tradition of lighting bonfire. After the prayers, the clergy and
congregation walk in procession to the place where the bonfire is lit, and
they walk around the bonfire three times, symbolizing purification by light.
At the end of the round, people take the light from the Church to their
homes in specially prepared torches.
##
View the photos here:
http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/Pho tos/Photos358.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.