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Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Nativity and
Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ
10:01, 06 Jan 2015
Each year, on January 6, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the
Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
which is the commemoration of the Birth and Baptism of Jesus Christ.
God was incarnated and appeared to the people. During the Baptism of
Jesus God the Father said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am
well pleased" (Mt 3:17) and the Holy Spirit descended on Christ in the
form of dove, so God appeared to the people for the second time. So,
both Theophanies revealed by means of the Birth and Baptism of Jesus
Christ are celebrated in the Armenian Church jointly on January 6. The
feast starts on the eve, in the evening of January 5, and is continued
after the midnight. On the eve a solemn Candlelight Divine Liturgy is
celebrated and on January 6 a solemn Divine Liturgy is celebrated. At
the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy Blessing of the Waters Service is
conducted symbolizing the Baptism of Christ in the River Jordan at the
commencement of His ministry. By means of His Baptism Jesus blessed
water.
Celebrant priest pours out the Holy Chrism drop by drop into water and
blesses the water. According to the tradition people take some blessed
water with them to use it as a medicinal remedy for the sick. After
Blessing of the Waters Service the priests visit the houses of the
faithful to proclaim the Christmastide Good News of the Birth of Jesus
Christ and hence the tradition of Blessing of the Houses was formed.
The Birth of Jesus happened in this way. "In those days Caesar
Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire
Roman world. ... And everyone went to his own town to register. So
Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to
Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line
of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be
married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the
time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her
firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a
manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Lk 2:1-7) The
Son of God was born in poverty, in a manger. The witnesses of His
Birth were the shepherds living out in the fields nearby, whom the
angels had appeared and brought the good news of the Birth of the
Savior singing: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to
men on whom his favor rests." (Lk 2:18)
Soon afterwards some men who studied the stars came from the East and
worshipped Baby Christ, presented him gifts and returned to their
countries.
Source: Qahana.am
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/01/06/armenian-church-celebrates-the-feast-of-the-holy-nativity-and-theophany-of-our-lord-jesus-christ/
Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ
10:01, 06 Jan 2015
Each year, on January 6, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the
Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
which is the commemoration of the Birth and Baptism of Jesus Christ.
God was incarnated and appeared to the people. During the Baptism of
Jesus God the Father said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am
well pleased" (Mt 3:17) and the Holy Spirit descended on Christ in the
form of dove, so God appeared to the people for the second time. So,
both Theophanies revealed by means of the Birth and Baptism of Jesus
Christ are celebrated in the Armenian Church jointly on January 6. The
feast starts on the eve, in the evening of January 5, and is continued
after the midnight. On the eve a solemn Candlelight Divine Liturgy is
celebrated and on January 6 a solemn Divine Liturgy is celebrated. At
the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy Blessing of the Waters Service is
conducted symbolizing the Baptism of Christ in the River Jordan at the
commencement of His ministry. By means of His Baptism Jesus blessed
water.
Celebrant priest pours out the Holy Chrism drop by drop into water and
blesses the water. According to the tradition people take some blessed
water with them to use it as a medicinal remedy for the sick. After
Blessing of the Waters Service the priests visit the houses of the
faithful to proclaim the Christmastide Good News of the Birth of Jesus
Christ and hence the tradition of Blessing of the Houses was formed.
The Birth of Jesus happened in this way. "In those days Caesar
Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire
Roman world. ... And everyone went to his own town to register. So
Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to
Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line
of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be
married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the
time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her
firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a
manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Lk 2:1-7) The
Son of God was born in poverty, in a manger. The witnesses of His
Birth were the shepherds living out in the fields nearby, whom the
angels had appeared and brought the good news of the Birth of the
Savior singing: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to
men on whom his favor rests." (Lk 2:18)
Soon afterwards some men who studied the stars came from the East and
worshipped Baby Christ, presented him gifts and returned to their
countries.
Source: Qahana.am
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/01/06/armenian-church-celebrates-the-feast-of-the-holy-nativity-and-theophany-of-our-lord-jesus-christ/