EVE OF GREAT LENT
SYNAXIS READINGS
ISAIAH 58.1-14
ROMANS 13.11-14.23, 16:25-27
MATTHEW 6.1-21
MORNING SERVICE at 9:30 am
DIVINE LITURGY at 10:30 am
Celebrated by REV. ARCHPRIEST FR. ZAREH ZARGARIAN
Vicar and Parish Priest
Choirmaster: Dn. Shahe Altounian
Organist: Mrs. Sona Artinian
“Հա՛յրմեր՝որերկինքնես,քուանունդսուրբըլլայ.
քութագաւորութիւնդգայ.քուկամքդըլլայ, ինչպէսերկինքը՝նոյնպէսերկրիվրայ:
Մերամէնօրեայհացը՝մեզիտո՛ւրայսօր.
մեզիներէ՛մերպարտքերը, ինչպէսմենքալկըներենքմերպարտապաններուն.
ումեզմի՛տանիրփորձութեան,
հապամեզազատէ՛Չարէն.
որովհետեւքո՛ւկդենթագաւորութիւնը, զօրութիւնըեւփառքըյաւիտեան.ամէն”:
ROMANS
13.11-14.23, 16:25-27
And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of
us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore, do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.
So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from f faith to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
MATTHEW
6.1-21
“Becarefulnottopracticeyourrighteousnessinfrontofotherstobe seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘OurFatherinheaven, hallowedbeyourname,
yourkingdomcome, yourwillbedone, onearthasitisinheaven. Giveustodayourdailybread. Andforgiveusourdebts, aswealsohaveforgivenourdebtors. Andleadusnotintotemptation, butdeliverusfromtheevilone.
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
“Donotstoreupforyourselvestreasuresonearth,wheremothsand vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
PAREGENTAN AND THE GREAT LENT
The days before fasting (with the exception of day log fasts) are called Paregentan, and the day before the Great Lent is called Poon Paregentan. Poon Paregentan is celebrated on Sunday, the day before Lent begins, this year on February 15. Similar to the Western traditions of Mardi Gras or Carnival, it is a day during which people are encouraged to have fun and eat and drink merrily prior to fasting. It symbolizes the life of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, before they sinned and were exiled.
Paregentan comes from two words - pari which means “good” and gentani, which means “alive” or “living”. The first 40 days of fasting symbolize the 40 days’ period of praying, fasting and repentance of our Lord Jesus Christ in the desert. Following the 40 days long fast there is a weeklong fast during the Holy week as well. This is why the Great Lent lasts for 48 days.
In the early years of church, the Lenten traditions hardly permitted the consumption of any food besides bread and salt. Therefore, the Armenian Church sometimes refers to the Lent as Aghouhatzk , meaning "salt and bread". Over time, Lenten rules have changed to allow other food, as long as it did not derive from animals (meat, milk, dairy, eggs etc.), with the exception of honey. People, who were fasting, were now permitted to consume only vegetarian food. Alcoholic beverages were also forbidden.
Often people think that fasting is only the rejection of animal food, but in reality, first of all it is a time of abstinence not only from food, but also from bad habits, thoughts and behavior, as well as time to repent and pray and lead a virtuous life.
The 24th day or the of Great Lent, which always falls on a Wednesday, is called Mijink. It marks, that the first half of Great Lent has already passed. This year Mijink is on March 2. Please note, that the fasting is not broken on Mijink.
Great Lent has seven Sundays and each Sunday has a special meaning: Eve of Great Lent (Poon Paregentan), Sunday of Expulsion, Sunday of the Prodigal Son, Sunday of the Stewart, Sunday of the Judge, Sunday of Advent and Palm Sunday.
TYPES OF FASTING
The practice of fasting was stipulated back in the garden of Eden and was the first commandment given by God to Adam: ‘You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat..." (Genesis 2.16).
According to the church calendar, a year is divided into holidays and fasting days. Most of the 158 days of fasting are short, day long fasts and weeklong fasts as well. Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year are fasting days in memory of the betrayal and sufferings and crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The longest fast is the Great Lent. According to church tradition, there are three types of fasting. The first is the fast, when we abstain from the food of animal origin (except honey) and alcohol.
The second type of fasting, in Armenian also called fast of saints, permits the use of bread and salt only.
And the third type of fasting, dsom (Ծոմ), is the refusal of all types of food and even water.
CLOSED ALTAR CURTAINS
During Great Lent, the altar curtain remains closed in the Armenian Church. It symbolizes Adam and Eve’s expulsion from Paradise and emphasizes the spirit of repentance for the 40-day period prior to the Holy Week.
The Curtain reopens on Palm Sunday with a special Turen Patzek (dooropening) service, which symbolizing the entering of the righteous into God’s Kingdom and remains open till Moundy Thursday. After the night service the curtain closes again and reopens on Easter Sunday, the Resurrection of our lord Jesus Christ.
During Lent the Divine Liturgy (Badarak) is celebrated with the Main Altar curtain closed, The Kiss of Peace is not given.
Requested by
Mrs. Sirouhie Torossian
Ms. Maral Torossian
Mr. & Mrs. Vatche and Deborah Torossian and Braydon
Mr. & Mrs. Varant and Maria Torossian and daughters, Lara, Ella, Ava
In Memory of Their Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, and Uncle
THE LATE MEGUERDITCH TOROSSIAN
On the 40th day of his passing
Requested by
Romina Dermardirosian
In Memory of Her Beloved Aunt
THE LATE RIMA DERMARDIROSIAN
On the 40th day of her passing
Requested by
Mr. & Mrs. Bearge and Maral Souvalian and family
In Memory of Their Beloved Sister
THE LATE SONA SOUVALIAN
On the 40th day of her passing
Requested by
Mr. Berts Zambaktsian
Mr. & Mrs. Nicola and Madeline Cerra
Mr. & Mrs. Hovig and Liset Pilavdjian and children, Jano, Julian, and Joseph
Mrs. Yerchan Solakian and Family
Mrs. Sona Mikaelian and Family
Mr. Kevork Kevorkian and Family
In Memory of Their Beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, and Aunt
THE LATE AKABI ZAMBAKTSIAN
On the 1st Anniversary of her passing
Requested by Ms Rose Aharonian
In Memory of Her Beloved Mother
THE LATE JESSIE HASMIGUE AHARONIAN
On the 8th anniversary of her passing
Requested by
Mrs. Eva Paylan
Mrs. Mariam Paylan and family
Mr. Alex Paylan and family
In Memory of THE LATE EROL PAYLAN
On the 13th anniversary of his passing
Requested by
Mr. Berts Zambaktsian
Mr. & Mrs. Nicola and Madeline Cerra
Mr. & Mrs. Hovig and Liset Pilavdjian and children, Jano, Julian and Joseph
Avanessian Family (Germany)
Zambaktsian Family (Greece)
In Memory of
THE LATE DALITA AVANESSIAN NÉE ZAMBAKTSIAN
Requested by
Diana Kupalyan
Vahan Kupalyan
Arman Yaghubian
Ani Yaghubian
In Memory of Their Beloved Mother, Mother-in-law and Grandmother
THE LATE ELVIRA SHISHMANYAN
On the occasion of her 85th heavenly birthday
List of Donations February 07- 12, 2026
GENERAL
Mr. & Mrs. Marcello & Marianna $1000
Mrs. Loussward Babapour $100
LOUMA
Mrs. Loussward Babapour Deykaleh $50
Armine Asatryan $100
Mr. & Mrs. Zadig & Nvart Mirzoyan $250
IN MEMORY OF THE LATE ELEEN AVANESIAN
Mr. Ara Avanessian and Dr. Anet Biuss $1,000
Mr. & Mrs. Armen & Houri Biouss $200
Mr. & Mrs. Armen and Talin Zaghikian $50
THE LATE JESSIE HASMIGUE AHARONIAN
Rose Aharonian $100
BELOVED PARENTS
Mr. Rubik Atamian $100
THE LATE AGOP DEMIRCIOGLU
Mrs. Dikranouhi Demircioglu $100
THE LATE ROUPEN GARABEDIAN
Mrs. Nadia Garabedian $300
THE LATE ELIZ
KALTAKJIAN
Ms Taline Baltayan $100
MEMORIAL RECEPTION
Romina Dermardirosian $300 (Women’sGuild)
MEMBERSHIP
Mr. Kevork Kassabian $100
Patrick Nazari $50
Madeline Nazari $50
Altar Flowers
Rose Aharonian $100
Tel:
HOLY TRINITY
ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH
Vicar of Armenian Church Canadian Diocese and Parish Priest
Rev. Archpriest Fr. Zareh Zargarian
Pastor’s Assistant Rev. Fr. Hayari Tanashian
Church Office Hours: Monday to Friday - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Executive Secretary, Ani Sarvarian
Ani@TorontoArmenianChurch.com
Administrative Secretary, Betty Panossian
Betty@TorontoArmenianChurch.com
920 Progress Ave. Toronto, ON, M1G 3T5
Tel: 416 431 3001
www.TorontoArmenianChurch.com info@TorontoArmenianChurch.com @TorontoArmenianChurch.com