On Thursday, February 14, the Armenian Church celebrated the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord to the Temple, “Dyarnentarach”.
On this day, mothers take their children to Church to present them to the altar for dedication, commemorating the Holy Mother of God presenting the Baby Jesus to the Temple forty days after His Birth. After the service a bonfire is lit in the Church courtyard, from which faithful light candles to take with them so that the Light of Christ would shine in their homes and misfortune would be kept out.
The eve of the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord was celebrated in Prelacy Churches on Wednesday, February 13.
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, presided over services and delivered his message at St. Mary’s Church in Glendale.
In his message, the Prelate stressed the importance for parents to follow in the example of the Holy Family and lead their children to the Light and Wisdom of Christ, for one of the greatest responsibilities of parents is the religious instruction of their children. Today, stated the Prelate, not only children but the Armenian nation as a whole needs the light, knowledge, care, and guidance of Jesus Christ. Referencing the “Year of the Armenian Mother” proclamation of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, the Prelate urged all mothers to fulfill their obligations in the proper instruction of their children. The Prelate concluded his message by inviting the faithful to take with them the light from the altar symbolizing the Light of Christ and illuminate their homes and lives as Christian Armenians.
In a procession led by the Prelate, and accompanied by the singing of hymns, faithful headed to the Church courtyard where His Eminence lit the bonfire with the candle brought from the altar while clergy and faithful sang traditional national songs.
Per tradition, Homenetmen leaders and scouts were in attendance and were hosted to dinner with the Prelate at “Armenak Der Bedrossian” Hall at the conclusion of services. Remarks were delivered by St. Mary’s Church Pastor Rev. Fr. Vazken Atmajian, Homenetmen Regional Executive Chair Mr. Garnik Abrahamian, Board of Trustees Chair Mr. Zareh Markarian, Executive Council Chair Mrs. Rima Boghossian, and Homenetmen Scouting Council Chair Ms. Talin Hindoyan, who presented the Prelate with a memento on behalf of the scouts.
The Prelate delivered the evening’s concluding message, in which he highly commended the dedicated servants who carry out the organization’s noble mission, and on this occasion presented the Homenetmen scouts with color illustrated prints of the Lord’s Prayer. This long-standing tradition of having Homenetmen scouts participate in this special service is a tribute to Homenetmen’s mission to preserve and celebrate our religious values and traditions and instill them in generations of youth. “Within the Homenetmen family, you grow physically, mentally, and spiritually, and with the instruction you receive you will develop into our future parents and leaders and serve for the progress of our larger family, the Armenian nation”, stated the Prelate.
The evening came to a close with the benediction by the Prelate and the “Harach Nahadag” anthem.