Easter is the most important holy day for Christians all over the world. The celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is the culmination of a series of ritual commemorations known as Holy Week. For The Armenian Apostolic Church, Holy Week is the recreation of the events of the last week of Christ’s life.

PALM SUNDAY

Our Church, on April 2, celebrated Palm Sunday, the Triumphant Entry of our Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. The “Opening of the Doors” (Trnpatsek) service followed, and the church curtain was opened after being closed for the duration of Great Lent.

In his sermon, our Pastor reflected on the sacred mystery of the day and asked our parishioners to: “Honor our church with reverence and respect, and strive to keep our church’s building, free from any activities that would distract our community from the true purpose of the church’s worship and prayer, which in turn would cleanse us from the false messiahs, the secular manipulations, and control.” – “My house shall be called a house of prayer”.

HOLY THURSDAY

Fr. Daniel performed the Washing of the Feet service. He washed the feet of 18 faithful. The service commemorates Christ washing the feet of the 12 Apostles following the Last Supper, prior to his arrest and suffering. The service began with a prayer. Our altar servers read scripture passages and the essay titled “About Love” by Archimandrite Hovhannes Pluz. Then the church’s service continued with the service called Tenebrae service (Խաւարում). Gospel readings during the service recall the prayer of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, His betrayal, arrest, and the denial of Peter. 

HOLY FRIDAY

On Holy Friday, the parishioners gathered to attend the Crucifixion and Burial service in the evening. The symbolic tomb was decorated and many parishioners placed flowers on it. As Der Hayr and the deacons prayed and sang the church hymn Berkevadoun, each parishioner took their turn to kneel before the tomb of the Lord and offered a special prayer before Him.

EASTER EVE

The Holy Saturday Evening Service, Ճրագալոյց, started at 6:30 p.m. Our faithful and altar servers read scripture passages. The last reading was from the Book of Daniel by Dilan and Alek Mouradian and Dn. Chris and Dn. Terenig. Holy Badarak immediately followed the scripture readings and was dedicated to the sacred mystery of the day that stated the victory of Christ over death.

The choir joyously sang “Kovyal Yerousalem UzDer Haryav Kristos!” “Praise the Lord O Jerusalem, Christ is risen from the dead!”

Upon the conclusion of the service, Fr. Daniel invited the congregation to light their candles symbolizing the mystery of the Light of Christ and His graceful gift of life forever. The dark cannot separate us from Jesus. His resurrection is a triumph of our faith, and death is no longer separated from God.

EASTER SUNDAY

Easter Sunday is the most important feast day in the Armenian Church and is often the most crowded day at St. Stepanos Church. More than 400 faithful came to our church to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. A magnificent Badarak took place. T

Following the Divine Liturgy, the congregation with a procession into the church hall gathered there for the traditional Easter Home Blessing and Women’s Guild Egg Cracking and with Putlock Dinner organized by the parents of our children from the Armenian/Sunday School.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Parish Council, the altar servers, all the choir members, youth and Sunday School students, and the Women’s Guild for their devotion and care on Sundays, especially their active participation in Holy Week. We are grateful to our Yeretzgin and to all the volunteers who worked diligently during Holy Week.