In Armenia, and among Armenian communities all over the world 6 January is celebrated as Christmas Day. This year the celebrations are very subdued as Armenians mourn the thousands of soldiers killed in the recent war with Azerbaijan which saw the Armenian army humiliated in the face of stronger and better equipped rivals.
Services were held last night in all churches of the Armenian Apostolic Church where a festive liturgy was celebrated as a sign of the Christmas revelation. People brought lighted candles from churches back to their homes.
This morning, Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, conducted a Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Mother Church in Yerevan. There was also a ceremony of blessing of water.
Armenian media noted the absence of senior officials at the service. It was reported that the Prosecutor General Arthur Davtyan and the head of the "Bright Armenia" faction in the parliament, Edmon Marukyan were present at the liturgy.
Earlier reports said that Armenian president Armen Sargesian was currently on a private visit to London and was isolating because he has been infected with coronavirus. A spokesperson for prime minister Nikol Pashinyan also said that the prime minister is self-isolating.
On this Christmas day Armenians greet each other today with the words: "Christ was born and revealed," to which the answer is, "Blessed be the birth of Christ, good tidings to us."
A happy Christmas to all Armenians worldwide.
source: commonspace.eu
photo: A Christmas day procession in Yerevan (photo courtesy of Armenpress news agency, Yerevan)
