The Feast of Palm Sunday in the Armenian Diocese in Georgia |
On March 20, 2016, the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church celebrated the Feast of Palm Sunday, which symbolizes the Triumphant Entry of Christ into Jerusalem. From the early morning the Cathedral of St. George and the Saint Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi and their courtyards were crowded. Despite the cold weather, believers in a festive mood came to celebrate the Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Following morning services, the Divine Liturgy was offered in the Cathedral of St. George and the Saint Etchmiadzin Church. The celebrant in the Cathedral of St. George was Right Rev. Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, while the celebrant in the Saint Etchmiadzin Church was Very Rev. Father Khoren Hovhannisyan, Pastor of Kvemo Kartli region at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia. The celebrants offered a homily during the Holy Mass in two churches; they spoke about the sacrament of Palm Sunday and referred to several episodes of the last earthly days of Christ. The Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Karekin II announced Palm Sunday the Day of Blessing the Children. Following the Divine Liturgy, the clergy conducted the Blessing of the Children Service. The continual flow of believers to the Armenian Church did not stop during the day. Rev. Fathers were blessing the branches and distributing them to the parish as a symbol of a special solemnity. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated and the Blessing of the Children Service was held on the occasion of Palm Sunday in the Armenian churches of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli. Following church services, in the Surb Prkich (Saint Savior) Church, the RA Consul General in Ajara, Mr. Aram Grigoryan presented with the Letters of Appreciation a group of Armenians, who actively participate in the life of community in Batumi. |