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ANTELIAS: Commemoration of St. Vartanants

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  • ANTELIAS: Commemoration of St. Vartanants

    PRESS RELEASE
    Catholicosate of Cilicia
    Communication and Information Department
    Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
    Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
    Fax: (04) 419724
    E- mail: [email protected]
    Web: http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/

    PO Box 70 317
    Antelias-Lebanon

    Armenian version: http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/Arme nian.htm

    ANTELIAS CELEBRATES THE FEAST OF VARTANANTS

    The Feast of Vartanants was celebrated during Holy Mass held in the Saint
    Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias on January 31.

    Delivering the Sermon, V. Rev. Norayr Ashekian stressed the importance of
    re-evaluating the legacy of Vartanatns in our present life. Recalling the
    images so truly depicted by Yeghishe Badmitch, he talked about the general
    political and spiritual life of 451 AD.

    A procession of Cilician Brotherhood members and Seminary students then led
    the believers to the Veharan, where the Seminary Choir, directed by Rev.
    Magar Ashkarian, performed patriotic songs dedicated to Vartanants while
    Rev. Torkom Donoyan accompanied on the piano. Archbishop Gomidas Ohanian
    sang "Lerets Ambere" dedicated to the eagles of Avarayr. With great
    enthusiasm believers participated in singing the songs on martyrdom and
    ultimate sacrifice that have educated and continue to educate generations.

    In his address to the people, Catholicos Aram I talked about the concept of
    martyrdom, pointing out that the land on which Vartan and his soldiers shed
    the blood is the pedestal on which our faith has grown. The Pontiff stressed
    the understanding of faith and its strength in Vartanants and Ghevontiants.
    "For them faith was not just a concept but "skin color" as Yeghishe Badmitch
    tells us. They had transformed faith into life and they demonstrated this
    with their actions," he said.

    His Holiness then talked about the strength of faith that was expressed on
    the battlefield of Avarayr and drove an entire nation into conscious death.
    "It is this strength in faith that brings a nation together to protect its
    Christian faith through martyrdom," he stressed. He concluded by calling for
    a revival of national consciousness.

    The celebration ended with "Cilicia", "Bahbanitch" and "I Veh Partsants".
    The feast was marked by Holy Mass in all the Armenian Churches throughout
    Lebanon. Special events were organized in Armenian schools on this occasion.

    ##
    View the photos here:
    http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/Pho tos/Photos191.htm
    ******
    The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
    the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
    the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
    the Catholicosate, http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org The Cilician
    Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
    Antelias, Lebanon.
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