Samvel, Samvel, with a holiday!
January 6 Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) celebrates the feast of the Nativity. In the ancient Armenian church - Cathedral of St.. Echmiadzin head Apostolic Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II has served a solemn liturgy and Patriarsheskuyu send the word punishment for the Armenian people.
Evening in Echmiadzin from across the country will gather believers to defend the all-night vigil. After the Christmas liturgy, committed consecrating water, which symbolizes the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River. Water is sanctified by the Bible, the holy cross and the sacred world. After the consecration of the water are distributed to those present.
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And on January 7 remember the dead. On this day, after the liturgy in St.. Echmiadzin otsluzhat requiem.
Armenians - the only ones in the world Christians are celebrating Christmas is traditionally the first centuries of Christianity, namely, along with baptism, on the night of the fifth to the sixth of January. However, the Armenian Apostolic Church in several regions of the country uses a calendar that contains a specific parish. Therefore, in Europe, America and Armenia itself, Christmas is celebrated on January 6, new style, while in Russia and other Orthodox countries, the followers of the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrating this holiday on January 6, old style, ie 19 January to the secular calendar.
The tradition of celebrating Christmas with Epiphany is still from the apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew. This is due to the fact that, according to the Old Testament, no one had the right to preach, not having reached the age of 30. Thus, when Christ began to preach, he was 30 years old. Because of this, the church initially celebrated Christmas and Epiphany in one day, because Christ began to preach after baptism.
Cathedral was built with the king Echmiadzin Tiridates III in 301-303 years. AD. During all this time, the canons of the Christmas liturgy at the cathedral were not changed. After the ceremonial entrance to the temple Karekin II entered the pulpit the gospel of the fifth century. This scripture was the first book, translated in 406 languages in Armenia.
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Cathedral of St. Echmiadzin
Central to this complex is of course the Cathedral - the oldest Christian temple of Armenia, one of the first in the Christian world. The first stone in the foundation of this temple, according to legend, was founded in 301 by Gregory the Illuminator - the first Catholicos of the Armenian Church.
The main Armenian church, embodied in the IV century, was not built in one century.
The original cathedral was built of wood in the form of a basilica. But in the 483 was rebuilt, it was made cruciform shape, surmounted by a dome. In VII century cathedral was rebuilt in stone. In the XVII century, the cathedral was erected a new modern three-tiered dome and bell tower. In the XVIII century on three sides by the Cathedral were built six-rotunda.
Internal painting of the Cathedral, completed in the XVIII century, impressive Byzantine luxury and a variety of floral ornament, executed in the orange-red and blue-purple color. In addition to the ornaments and other decorations artist painted many scenes on the theme of the Holy Scriptures, made more than 120 portraits with images of saints and apostles. In subsequent years, many of the frescoes were destroyed. In the twentieth century was carried out thorough restoration. Been strengthened columns and arches supporting the dome, and the dome was lined with lead. From the marble was built a new altar. Was paved with marble and the floor of the church. Been updated and supplemented by paintings inside the temple. Many cross-stones set in wall niches.
The main feature of the cathedral - is that in addition to the main, it is still three altars. Two of them are located in the southern and northern niches. The latter is located in the center of the cathedral and is the most holy place, where, according to tradition, Christ descended in his appearance Gregory the Illuminator, and commanded to build the temple here.
In 2001, when Armenia celebrated the 1,700 th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity, P apa - John Paul II brought to Armenia strength of the first Armenian Catholicos. Five hundred years of the relics of Saint Gregory the Illuminator were kept in Naples, and are now in the cathedral of Echmiadzin.