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PILGRIMAGE: ANNUAL COMMEMORATION GROWS AT NEW VARAGAVANK
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow.com
http://armenianow.com/society/features/40268/armenian_apostolic_church_varag_monastery_tavush
Features | 08.10.12 | 12:13
Since a few years ago New Varagavank or Monastery of Varag standing
proudly on a high hill, surrounded by forested mountains in Armenia's
northern province of Tavush has become a Christian pilgrimage site
for hundreds of believers from all over the country - once a year
offering a special religious experience and a feast.
People of all ages - families, student groups, friends, local
and foreign visitors come to see this 12th century monastery (near
Varagavan village 182 km from the Armenian capital), still surrounded
by memorial tablets surviving from the Soviet years of atheism, saying
that the monastery is a monument under state protection. In 2004,
it was handed to the Armenian Apostolic Church, which now offers
liturgies there.
The holy site is an especially popular destination on the last Sunday
of September when the Church celebrates the Varaga Holy Cross holiday
and offers a festive liturgy.
This holiday is unique for the Armenian Apostolic Church only and is
dedicated to finding a relic - a piece of the "True Cross" brought to
Armenia by Rhipsime and Gayane, whose names are legend in Armenian
Apostolic Christianity. Rhipsime, sensing her demise, hid the relic
on the Varaga mountain; it was later revealed and signaled the place
to build the monastery.
The relic, which has been kept at Mother Sea of Holy Echmiadzin,
was brought to New Varagavank for the special liturgy and was used
to extend a blessing on the four corners of Tavush.
People from throughout Tavush and the whole country had come to
witness the ritual.
History teacher Zhanna Babayan from Tavush province's Nerkin
Karmraghbyur border village, a regular visitor of the site, says
happily that each passing year more and more pilgrims celebrate the
holiday and come to take part in the festivities.
"Unfortunately, there are one or two sacred sites in our region,
and so we are left with little communication to spiritual food, and
this holiday becomes a good reason to go to church, listen to liturgy,
receive sacrament, and simply communicate with clergymen," she says,
adding that for several consecutive years she has been bringing high
school students to the Varaga Holy Cross Day celebration.
Among this years participants were former MP Mikayel Vardanyan known
for his charitable activities aiding the region, as well as Heritage
party leader and likely presidential candidate Raffi Hovannisian.
Nora Sargsyan, 26, a pilgrim from Yerevan, says a pilgrimage is part
of every pious Christian's life and by doing so a small step is taken
leading closer to God.
"After each pilgrimage, I understand that God is love and that we are
the carriers of some of that endless love. I become aware that we have
to love people with the purest of love and be kinder to one another,"
says Sargsyan.
Three students from another border village of Chinari were in
Varagavank, to be baptized by Father Tatchap.
Hasmik Mirzoyan, leader of Yerevan's Avan District Surb Astvatsatsin
church's youth union, says that the children met in summer this year at
the religious camp initiated by Father Tatchat at the border village.
"Some 30 children were in the camp, and none of them was baptized,
whereas baptism is the first sacrament of becoming a Christian and
it is through baptism that a believer is redeemed of his/her sins, is
reborn with the Holy Spirit, becomes a Christian and the child of our
Lord," says Mirzoyan, adding that they are planning to baptize all 30.
With the dusk the human flow to the church becomes scarcer, and folk
music echoes in the mountains as the evening feast begins in the area
next to the monastery. Joyous sounds of zurna (pipe) and dhol (drum)
invite to join the round-dance. Pilgrims from Yerevan shoulder to
shoulder with the border villagers enjoy the rhythmic folk dance of
kochari, then part exchanging good wishes and promises to come again
next year.
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow.com
http://armenianow.com/society/features/40268/armenian_apostolic_church_varag_monastery_tavush
Features | 08.10.12 | 12:13
Since a few years ago New Varagavank or Monastery of Varag standing
proudly on a high hill, surrounded by forested mountains in Armenia's
northern province of Tavush has become a Christian pilgrimage site
for hundreds of believers from all over the country - once a year
offering a special religious experience and a feast.
People of all ages - families, student groups, friends, local
and foreign visitors come to see this 12th century monastery (near
Varagavan village 182 km from the Armenian capital), still surrounded
by memorial tablets surviving from the Soviet years of atheism, saying
that the monastery is a monument under state protection. In 2004,
it was handed to the Armenian Apostolic Church, which now offers
liturgies there.
The holy site is an especially popular destination on the last Sunday
of September when the Church celebrates the Varaga Holy Cross holiday
and offers a festive liturgy.
This holiday is unique for the Armenian Apostolic Church only and is
dedicated to finding a relic - a piece of the "True Cross" brought to
Armenia by Rhipsime and Gayane, whose names are legend in Armenian
Apostolic Christianity. Rhipsime, sensing her demise, hid the relic
on the Varaga mountain; it was later revealed and signaled the place
to build the monastery.
The relic, which has been kept at Mother Sea of Holy Echmiadzin,
was brought to New Varagavank for the special liturgy and was used
to extend a blessing on the four corners of Tavush.
People from throughout Tavush and the whole country had come to
witness the ritual.
History teacher Zhanna Babayan from Tavush province's Nerkin
Karmraghbyur border village, a regular visitor of the site, says
happily that each passing year more and more pilgrims celebrate the
holiday and come to take part in the festivities.
"Unfortunately, there are one or two sacred sites in our region,
and so we are left with little communication to spiritual food, and
this holiday becomes a good reason to go to church, listen to liturgy,
receive sacrament, and simply communicate with clergymen," she says,
adding that for several consecutive years she has been bringing high
school students to the Varaga Holy Cross Day celebration.
Among this years participants were former MP Mikayel Vardanyan known
for his charitable activities aiding the region, as well as Heritage
party leader and likely presidential candidate Raffi Hovannisian.
Nora Sargsyan, 26, a pilgrim from Yerevan, says a pilgrimage is part
of every pious Christian's life and by doing so a small step is taken
leading closer to God.
"After each pilgrimage, I understand that God is love and that we are
the carriers of some of that endless love. I become aware that we have
to love people with the purest of love and be kinder to one another,"
says Sargsyan.
Three students from another border village of Chinari were in
Varagavank, to be baptized by Father Tatchap.
Hasmik Mirzoyan, leader of Yerevan's Avan District Surb Astvatsatsin
church's youth union, says that the children met in summer this year at
the religious camp initiated by Father Tatchat at the border village.
"Some 30 children were in the camp, and none of them was baptized,
whereas baptism is the first sacrament of becoming a Christian and
it is through baptism that a believer is redeemed of his/her sins, is
reborn with the Holy Spirit, becomes a Christian and the child of our
Lord," says Mirzoyan, adding that they are planning to baptize all 30.
With the dusk the human flow to the church becomes scarcer, and folk
music echoes in the mountains as the evening feast begins in the area
next to the monastery. Joyous sounds of zurna (pipe) and dhol (drum)
invite to join the round-dance. Pilgrims from Yerevan shoulder to
shoulder with the border villagers enjoy the rhythmic folk dance of
kochari, then part exchanging good wishes and promises to come again
next year.