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Feast of St. Sarkis the Captain, Patron of Love and Youth, his son Martyros and his 14 Soldiers-Companions

Feast of St. Sarkis the Captain, Patron of Love and Youth, his son Martyros and his 14 Soldiers-Companions

 

St. Sarkis the Captain

By the order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the Feast of St. Sarkis the Captain and his soldiers-companions is proclaimed day of blessing of the youth.

Captain St. Sarkis is one of the most beloved saints among the Armenian nation. Together with his 14 soldiers-companions he was martyred for the sake of Christian faith.

During the period of reign of the king Kostandianos the Great (285-337) St. Sarkis, being very courageous, was appointed the prince and General in chief of the region of Cappadocia bordering Armenia. When during the period of reign of the king Julianos the Betrayer (360-363) the persecutions against Christians started by God’s will St. Sarkis and his only son – Martyros, came to live in Armenia, and the Armenian king Tiran, grandson of Tiridates, received them very well. From Armenia St. Sarkis and his son went to Persia, and started serving in the army of the Persian king Shapouh as the captain of regiments. Become aware of the fact that Sarkis was Christian the king Shapouh ordered him to worship the fire and offer sacrifice to the heathen gods. But the captain immediately refused to obey the order saying, “We should worship one God - the Holy Trinity, which has created the earth and the heaven. Whereas fire or idols are not gods and the human being may destroy them.” After these words the saint destroyed the temple. The annoyed crowd fell on the saint and his son. First the son of the saint was martyred. The saint was put into prison and remaining unshaken in his faith was beheaded. After the martyrdom of the saint light appeared over his body. 14 soldiers-companions of the saint also were martyred for the sake of Christian faith.

For the Armenian nation St. Sarkis is one of the most beloved. It isn’t casual that St. Mesrop Mashtots brought the relics of the saint to the village Karbi (Ashtarak Region) and the Church of St. Sarkis was built over his relics.

Sts. Atomians were the Armenian captains Atom Gnouni and Manajihr Reshtouni who together with their regiments served in the Persian royal court during the period of reign of the idolater king Hazkert. Upon the excitation of archimagi king Hazkert started persecutions against Christians in order to eradicate Christian faith in Persia. Captains Atom Gnouni and Manajihr Reshtouni received an edict from Hazkert inviting the captains together with their regiments to the royal palace with the intention of forcing them to apostasy. At first the Armenian captains obeyed the order, but being aware of the trap prepared by the king they started back home and on their way home they stopped in the province of Andzevatsyats. Becoming aware of the numerous Persian Army persecuting them soldiers of the captain Atom Gnouni, encouraged  by the prophesy of a saint hermit living on the mountain preferred voluntary martyrdom. Persian Army reaching the Armenian regiment surrounded them and killed the saints by words. Whereas Manajihr Reshtouni and his soldiers reached his native land – Reshtounik, where he confessed his being Christian and was martyred in 449 AD.

St. Sarkis, Patron of Youth and love

In Armenia it is accepted to celebrate the Feast of St. Sarkis not only according to church rites and prayer, but also according to various folk traditions. St. Sarkis the Captain is the patron of youth. Many miracles happen thanks to his intercession. On the day of the feast young people pray the saint asking him to make their prayers audible to God. St. Sarkis is the realizer of the love longings.

There are many legends about St. Sarkis and one of them is the following.

Poor bard Gharib loved Shah-Sanam who was the daughter of a very rich man. Shah-Sanam loved him, too, but because the bard was poor, the Shah-Sanam’s father was against their marriage as he wished to marry his daughter to a rich man. Bard Gharib decided to go to foreign countries to earn money and to accumulate wealth. But before leaving for foreign countries bard Gharib asked Shah-Sanam to promise to wait for him for seven years providing that if he were late even for one day the young woman might marry according to her father’s will.

That seven-year-period was a very difficult period for bard Gharib. He couldn’t see his beloved, had no news of her, and nevertheless, he wasn’t disappointed and waited for the time when they would meet, make up family and live together all their life.

Working day and night for seven years bard Gharib accumulated wealth and started his way back to the motherland. However, on his way back he faced many difficulties and hardships. It seemed to him that he wouldn’t be able to reach his beloved. So, he prayed with honest heart and righteous mind for the help of St. Sarkis asking.

Listening the prayer of the bard St. Sarkis immediately appeared sitting on his white horse, seated him on the back of the horse and in one moment brought him to Shah-Sanam. Seeing the bard’s strong will, their sincere and deep love and devotion, Shah-Sanam’s father blessed their union.

Fast of Catechumens established by St. Gregory the Illuminator precedes the feast. On the eve of the feast, in the evening, young people eat salty cookies and relate the appearance of their future bride or bridegroom in their dream to eating of the salty cookie. Also, on the night preceding the feast of St. Sarkis the faithful people place a tray full of gruel before the door believing that while passing near their door at dawn St. Sarkis will leave his footprint on the gruel symbolizing the fulfillment of their dreams.

People in love present each other cards, flowers or sweets on the occasion of the feast.
On the day of the feast a Divine Liturgy is celebrated in all churches named after St. Sarkis. Following the Liturgy a special ceremony of blessing of young people will be offered.

When is celebrated

21.01.2008
07.02.2009
30.01.2010
19.02.2011
04.02.2012
26.01.2013
15.02.2014
31.01.2015
23.01.2016
11.02.2017
27.01.2018
16.02.2019
08.02.2020
30.01.2021
12.02.2022
04.02.2023
27.01.2024
15.02.2025
31.01.2026
23.01.2027
12.02.2028
27.01.2029
16.02.2030

Commemoration of Sts. Sukiasianas

Commemoration of Sts. Sukiasianas

 

Relatives of the queen Satenik, being the followers of Sts. Voskian priests, later were called Sukiasians, as their leader’s name was Sukias. Not managing to persuade and to return their former servants the Armenian princes took revenge on their preachers – Sts. Voskians and killed them by swords.

When is celebrated

22.01.2008
10.02.2009
02.02.2010
22.02.2011
07.02.2012
29.01.2013
18.02.2014
03.02.2015
26.01.2016
13.02.2017
30.01.2018
19.02.2019
11.02.2020
02.02.2021
15.02.2022
07.02.2023
30.01.2024
18.02.2025
03.02.2026
26.01.2027
15.02.2028
30.01.2029
19.02.2030

Commemoration of Sts. Voskian priests

Commemoration of Sts. Voskian priests

 

Sts. Voskians were five ambassadors sent by the Roman emperor to the Armenian king Sanatruk. They came to Armenia in the half of the 1st century, met the Apostle St. Bartholomew and as a result of his preaching they were baptized and converted to Christianity. One of them – Khrussi (in Armenian his name means “Voski” (“Gold”) and hence – the name “Voskians”) was ordained into the holy order of priesthood.

After the martyrdom of the Apostle St. Bartholomew they were isolated in the mountains Tsaghkavet of Tsaghkotn province and led an ascetic life for about 40 years. Being led by the divine message they came to the Armenian royal court to preach Christianity the Armenian king Artashes and the queen Satenik. In the royal court only the relatives of the queen Satenik followed the Voskians. 12 servants of the royal court who had come with the queen Satenik to Armenia from Alans’ country, were baptized in the river Euphrates and left together with the Voskians for the mountains.

Sts. Voskians are among the first martyrs and hermits of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

When is celebrated

24.01.2008
12.02.2009
04.02.2010
24.02.2011
09.02.2012
31.01.2013
20.02.2014
05.02.2015
28.01.2016
16.02.2017
01.02.2018
21.02.2019
13.02.2020
04.02.2021
17.02.2022
09.02.2023
01.02.2024
20.02.2025
05.02.2026
28.01.2027
17.02.2028
01.02.2029
21.02.2030

Commemoration of the Pontiff St. Sahak Partev

Commemoration of the Pontiff St. Sahak Partev

 

Pontiff St. Sahak Partev was the elder son of Catholicos St. Nersess the Great, and the last Catholicos of the Armenian Church who descended from the lineage of St. Gregory the Illuminator. He became Catholicos of All Armenians in 387 A.D., and reigned for an astounding 52 years. Being talented in music and educated in the rhetorical arts, philosophy and linguistics, St. Sahak greatly contributed to the development of Armenian national culture. He was the strongest advocate for the creation of an Armenian Alphabet, and became its chief patron.

Following the creation of the Armenian Alphabet, St. Sahak and St. Mesrop opened a school for translators in the city of Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin). There they begin the translation of the Holy Bible into Armenian and did it so perfectly, that centuries hence the Armenian Translation is called the “Queen Translation of the Breath of God”. The first sentence translated from the Holy Bible is the opening verse of the Book of Proverbs: “To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding”.

When is celebrated

26.01.2008
31.01.2009
06.02.2010
26.02.2011
11.02.2012
02.02.2013
22.02.2014
07.02.2015
30.01.2016
18.02.2017
03.02.2018
23.02.2019
15.02.2020
06.02.2021
19.02.2022
11.02.2023
03.02.2024
22.02.2025
07.02.2026
30.01.2027
19.02.2028
03.02.2029
23.02.2030

Commemoration of 150 Pontiffs participating in the Ecumenical Council of Constantinople

Commemoration of 150 Pontiffs participating in the Ecumenical Council of Constantinople

 

During different periods of history the Ecumenical Church has faced various problems of doctrinal, administrative and organizational nature, solutions to which have been provided during the Ecumenical Councils. One of such councils was the Second Ecumenical Council convened upon the order of the King Theodosios in Constantinople, in 381.

As the result of Arian disputes a new heresy had appeared, the head and supporter of which was Bishop Makedon of Constantinople, who denied the deity of the Holy Spirit. The Ecumenical Council convened in Constantinople on that special occasion, re-endorsed the definition of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea and stack for the formulation “One deity, three persons”.

Accepting the Ecumenical Council, the Armenian Apostolic Church commemorates the memory of 150 Patriarchs participating in the Council.

When is celebrated

02.02.2008
21.02.2009
13.02.2010
05.03.2011
18.02.2012
09.02.2013
01.03.2014
24.01.2015
06.02.2016
25.02.2017
10.02.2018
02.03.2019
22.02.2020
13.02.2021
26.02.2022
18.02.2023
10.02.2024
01.03.2025
24.01.2026
06.02.2027
26.02.2028
10.02.2029
02.03.2030

Eve of the Fast of Catechumens

Eve of the Fast of Catechumens

 

The Fast of Catechumens is peculiar only to the Armenian Church. It begins three weeks before the Great Lent. In ancient times people could eat only bread and salt during the fast of Catechumens. On those days it was not allowed to celebrate Divine Liturgy either.

The meaning of the Fast of Catechumens is the purification of the five human senses from pagan impurity. In the ancient Church there was a custom to fast during five days before baptism. St. Gregory the Illuminator ordered King Tiridates and others to fast for five days before baptism in order to get freed of the evil. That is the reason also for fasting of Catechumens to be called “fast of salvation” from the evil.

According to the tradition, the fasting of Catechumens was initiated by St. Gregory the illuminator in memory of the above-mentioned practice.

There are two explanations regarding the name of this feast.
It is called the fast of Catechumens:
1. As the precursor of the Great Lent, and
2. As the first Armenian fast.

On the fifth day of the fasting of Catechumens, on Friday, the remembrance day of the Prophet Jonah is celebrated, but it is celebrated not as the feast of Prophet Jonah, but as the memory of an example of great repentance and abstinence which Jonah urged. At times, wrongly, the fasting of Catechumens was called the fast of St. Sarkis, because the Armenian Church celebrates the feast of St. Sarkis on Saturday following the fast. In Middle Ages the Byzantine and the Georgian Churches blamed the Armenian Church for the fasting of Catechumens, relating it to St. Sarkis, to whom they ascribed sorcery. According to the testimonies of Armenian medieval writers. Greek and Latin Churches also had the fasting of Catechumens in ancient times.

When is celebrated

13.01.2008
01.02.2009
24.01.2010
13.02.2011
29.01.2012
20.01.2013
09.02.2014
25.01.2015
17.01.2016
05.02.2017
21.01.2018
10.02.2019
02.02.2020
24.01.2021
06.02.2022
29.01.2023
21.01.2024
09.02.2025
25.01.2026
17.01.2027
06.02.2028
21.01.2029
10.02.2030

Commemoration of St. Kirakos and his mother Judithah

Commemoration of St. Kirakos and his mother Judithah

 

Judithah was a God-loving and pious woman. She had a three-year-old son, whose name was Kirakos. When persecutions against the Christians began, she left for Tarson. But she did not live a quiet and peaceful life there as the persecutions were being continued in Tarson, too. The saint woman was imprisoned and subjected to torments. Little Kirakos, seeing his mother’s sufferings cried, but despite the judge’s kindness and warm attitude, he was strengthened by his faith towards Christ and all the time repeated his mother’s words: “I am Christian and I worship Jesus Christ”. The baby tried by all means to get free from the judge’s hands and to go to his mother. He struck the judge in the hand and the annoyed judge threw the baby down the stairs. Knocking his head against a stone, the baby died. His mother rendered glory to God that her son was martyred, but did not betray Our Savior Jesus Christ. She was subjected to indescribable torments and finally was beheaded. This event took place in 305 AD The Armenian Church has dedicated a church hymn to St. Kirakos.

When is celebrated

24.07.2008
22.01.2009
21.01.2010
24.01.2011
23.01.2012
29.07.2013
21.01.2014
22.01.2015
28.07.2016
23.01.2017
30.07.2018
21.01.2019
21.01.2020
21.01.2021
24.01.2022
23.01.2023
29.06.2024
21.01.2025
22.01.2026
27.07.2027
24.01.2028
30.07.2029
21.01.2030

Commemoration of the King St. Theodos and Children of Ephesus

Commemoration of the King St. Theodos and Children of Ephesus

 

King and distinguished Captain Theodos, who is called also Theodos the Great, is known to the Christian world as the greatest advocate and supporter of Orthodoxy.

In 379 being appointed the king of the East, pious Theodos allowed all the orthodox Bishops exiled upon the order of the previous king to return to their countries. According to the book “Life of the Saints” among them was the Armenian Pontiff St. Nerses. Another important step directed to the strengthening of the orthodox faith became the Ecumenical Council of Constantinople convened upon the order of the King Theodos in 381.

The modest behavior of the pious Christian is exemplary. When as punishment for the massacre of the people organized in Thessalonica the Bishop of Milan prohibited Theodos to enter the church, the king obeyed and entered the church only after repenting for 8 months.

On the day of commemoration of the King Theodos the Armenian Church commemorates also the memory of the 7 children of Ephesus. 7 noble young men from Ephesus were secretly baptized and became Christians. For adopting Christianity they were persecuted by the king Dekos and hid themselves in the cave of the nearby mountain (Voghkos). By God’s will they fell sleep in the cave for 140 years and woke up only in 389, during the period of reign of the king Theodos. When people became aware of that divine miracle, the king and the residents of Ephesus met the persecuted Christians with great respect and honor. Returning to their cave the 7 young men passed away. They were buried in the same cave, upon which later a magnificent church was built.

When is celebrated

22.07.2008
20.01.2009
19.01.2010
20.01.2011
19.01.2012
19.01.2013
20.01.2014
20.01.2015
26.07.2016
19.01.2017
20.10.2018
19.01.2019
20.01.2020
19.01.2021
20.01.2022
19.01.2023
20.01.2024
20.01.2025
20.01.2026
26.07.2027
20.01.2028
20.10.2029
19.01.2030

Commemoration of the Patriarch St. Peter, Bishop St. Vlas and Deacon Abisolom

Commemoration of the Patriarch St. Peter, Bishop St. Vlas and Deacon Abisolom

 

Patriarch St. Peter of Alexandria and Deacon Abisolom are important saints of the Universal Church. At the beginning of the 4th century being the Patriarch of Alexandria, St. Peter thanks to the strength of his faith and with the support of the Deacon Abisolom led and protected his flock during the period of reign of the kings Dioclethianus, Galerius and Maximianus, who persecuted the Christians. Because of the intensification of persecutions and upon the insistence of the local community the Patriarch left for Palestine and Mesopotamia. However, becoming aware of Christians’ martyrdoms, he immediately returned to Alexandria and soon he was imprisoned. By the wish of the saint, and also fearing of the people’s indignation, the soldiers don’t behead him publicly. The Patriarch Peter and the Deacon Abisolom were martyred in 311.

Bishop Vlas of Sebastia always gave the lead to the Christians and encouraged the martyrs. During the period of persecutions of the king Likianos Bishop Vlas advised his flock to leave Sebastia, and went to live in the monasteries on the Mountain Areos, where he lived an ascetic and prayerful life. However, authorities became aware of the place of the saint and brought him to the court, where filled with the Lord’s Spirit, Bishop Vlas reproached the heathens. For his behavior he was subjected to torments, then he was thrown into the lake of Sebastia and afterwards was beheaded in 316.

The life, behavior and martyrdom of the Patriarch St. Peter, Bishop St. Vlas and Deacon Abisolom have been a model for the entire Christian world, at the price of whose blood the Christian Church was  founded.

When is celebrated

19.07.2008
17.01.2009
16.01.2010
17.01.2011
16.01.2012
15.01.2013
16.01.2014
17.01.2015
16.01.2016
16.01.2017
16.01.2018
15.01.2019
16.01.2020
16.01.2021
17.01.2022
16.01.2023
16.01.2024
16.01.2025
17.01.2026
16.01.2027
17.01.2028
16.01.2029
15.01.2030

Feast of the Birth of St. John the Forerunner (Baptist)

Feast of the Birth of St. John the Forerunner (Baptist)

 

The birth of St. John the Baptist is described in details in the Gospel according to Like (Lk 1:5-25). One day Zechariah, father of St John the Baptist, was doing his work as a priest in the Temple and was burning incense on the altar. An angel of the Lord appeared to him and said that God had heard his prayer and his wife would bear him a son. Zechariah had to name him John. Zechariah didn’t believe the angel as he was and old man, and his wife was old, too. And because he hadn’t believed the angel he became unable to speak and remained silent until the birth of John.

St. John the Baptist, who should baptize the Savior, had been aware and rejoiced for the birth of Jesus even before his birth. According to the Evangelist, when St. Mary, Holy Mother of God, visited Elizabeth, mother of St John the Baptist, the latter, being filled with the Holy Spirit cried out, “Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord’s mother comes to visit me? For as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness” (Lk 1:43-44).

Continuation of the words of Elizabeth are the message of this feast addressed to all Christians throughout the world, “How happy you are to believe that the Lord’s message to you will come true!” (Lk 1:45).

When is celebrated

19.01.2008
15.01.2009
14.01.2010
15.01.2011
14.01.2012
14.01.2013
14.01.2014
15.01.2015
14.01.2016
14.01.2017
15.01.2018
14.01.2019
14.01.2020
14.01.2021
15.01.2022
14.01.2023
15.01.2024
14.01.2025
15.01.2026
14.01.2027
15.01.2028
15.01.2029
14.01.2030

Feast of Naming of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Feast of Naming of Our Lord Jesus Christ

 

Each year, on January 13, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Feast of Naming of Our Lord Jesus Christ. As Evangelist St. Luke writes in his Gospel, according to the  Jewish tradition “On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.” (Lk 2:21). “Jesus” is a Hebrew word meaning “Savior”.  According to the Gospel according to Luke when the angel Gabriel came to Mary to give her the good tidings of the birth of the Son of the Most High, he said that Mary would name the baby “Jesus”. “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” (Lk 1:31).

Parallel to the name “Jesus” the name “Christ” is given to the Savior, which is a Greek word meaning “Consecrated” and corresponding to the Hebrew word “Messiah”.
On the Feast of Naming of Our Lord Jesus Christ a Divine Liturgy is celebrated in all Armenian Churches. On the eve of the feast, following the evening service a special service is conducted.

When is celebrated

13.01.2008
13.01.2009
13.01.2010
13.01.2011
13.01.2012
13.01.2013
13.01.2014
13.01.2015
13.01.2016
13.01.2017
13.01.2018
13.01.2019
13.01.2020
13.01.2021
13.01.2022
13.01.2023
13.01.2024
13.01.2025
13.01.2026
13.01.2027
13.01.2028
13.01.2029
13.01.2030

Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ

 

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.

When is celebrated

06.01.2008
06.01.2009
06.01.2010
06.01.2011
06.01.2012
06.01.2013
06.01.2014
06.01.2015
06.01.2016
06.01.2017
06.01.2018
06.01.2019
06.01.2020
06.01.2021
06.01.2022
06.01.2023
06.01.2024
06.01.2025
06.01.2026
06.01.2027
06.01.2028
06.01.2029
06.01.2030

Eve of Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Candlelight (Lucernarium) Divine Liturgy

Eve of Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Candlelight (Lucernarium) Divine Liturgy

 

As according to the Church the day is changed at 17:00 p.m., after the evening service, the feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ starts on the eve, in the evening of January 5, and is continued after the midnight, on January 6. On the eve a solemn Candlelight Divine Liturgy is celebrated. Following the conclusion of the Liturgy, the assembled faithful take lit candles and lamps home symbolizing the divine light and the blessing of the Church. Lighting lamps symbolizes the light of the Bethlehem Star which guided the way of the magi to the baby Christ.

When is celebrated

05.01.2008
05.01.2009
05.01.2010
05.01.2011
05.01.2012
05.01.2013
05.01.2014
05.01.2015
05.01.2016
05.01.2017
05.01.2018
05.01.2019
05.01.2020
05.01.2021
05.01.2022
05.01.2023
05.01.2024
05.01.2025
05.01.2026
05.01.2027
05.01.2028
05.01.2029
05.01.2030

New Year

New Year

Presently all Christian churches celebrate the New Year on January 1. The word “January” means “birth”. Before Christ’s coming to the world mankind was the captive of hell and constrained by eternal death. Being born in January Christ destroyed the hell, saved the mankind from eternal death and leads to the Kingdom of Heaven. That’s why January became the months’ beginning.  January 1 is the first day of the first month of the year of birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.  On January 1 a Divine Liturgy is celebrated in all churches.
According to the folk tradition on January 1 people decorate the New Year tree symbolizing the Tree of Life of Eden. 

When is celebrated

01.01.2008
01.01.2009
01.01.2010
01.01.2011
01.01.2012
01.01.2013
01.01.2014
01.01.2015
01.01.2016
01.01.2017
01.01.2018
01.01.2019
01.01.2020
01.01.2021
01.01.2022
01.01.2023
01.01.2024
01.01.2025
01.01.2026
01.01.2027
01.01.2028
01.01.2029
01.01.2030