“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
Therefore, Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. a They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
(Col. 4:5-6)
սուս Քրիստոս երկրի վրայ
մնաց քառասուն օրեր եւս: Այդ 40 օրերու ընթացքին
Յիսուս շարունակեց քա-
րոզել` երեւնալով իր աշա
Ան կը խօսէր
երկնքի արքայութեան մա-
սին, կը յուսադրէր ու կը
քաջալերէր զանոնք, որ-
պէսզի կարողանան աներ-
կիւղ քարոզել Աւետարա-
նը: Այդ ընթացքին, Յիսուս
կը պատուիրէ իր առաք-
եալներուն
FEAST OF THE ASCENSION
On Thursday May 14, the Armenian Apostolic Church will celebrate one of its ecumenical feasts: the Feast of Holy Ascension or Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Feast of Ascension celebrates the ascent of Jesus Christ into heaven on the fortieth day following his resurrection. Following His Resurrection, Christ remained on earth for forty days, and continued to appear to His disciples and talk to them about the Kingdom of God. On the fortieth day, Christ blessed his disciples, gave them last instructions and encouraged them to continue preaching the Gospel. Then he started to ascend to heaven.
“As they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11).
Just like Easter the Feast of Ascension is movable and falls on 40th day after Easter, which is always a Thursday.
Աղջիկները
ծաղկեփունջեր
FOLK TRADITIONS OF THE FEAST OF ASCENTION
• The Ascension Day celebrations used to begin on Wednesday. That day was called Sunday of Tsaghkamayr. According to tradition, Tsaghkamayre refers to the Christian nun Varvara, who ran away from her pagan father and found refuge in a cave on the Mountain of Ara. Eventually, her father found her in the cave and killed her. Just before her death, she asked God, who heal children who had smallpox and measles. Her prayer was answered. The cave became a place of pilgrimage and is called Tsagkevank. Every year on the feast of Ascension many pilgrims go to a pilgrimage to Tsagkevanq on the mount Ara (Kotayk Province, Armenia).
• The girls also made beautiful bouquets from the flowers they collected from the fields. The largest of them was called Tsaghkamer, was shaped as a cross and was made for the church.
• On the feast of Ascension it was popular to have a Jangyulum vijagakhagh and flower gathering. For the vijaghakhagh, the girls would collect water from 7 springs and 7 different colours, put them in jar and add the belongings of young girls.
Another young girl dressed in white would start take the belongings one at a time. They believed that the girl, whose belonging was picked first, would get married that year. The other girls would get a small scroll that supposedly is a prediction about their future.
• On Thursday morning, the women prepared the traditional Gatnabour, cooked with milk and rice, somewhat similar to rice pudding. It was distributed to neighbors, friends or at least to seven households. Gatnabour was also distributed in the fields, to have a successful harvest.
After this traditional dish the Feast of Ascension was also called the feast of Gatnabour.
• Starting from the Feast of Ascension until Vardavar, many people would abstain from going to the holy sites for pilgrimages. During that time the faithful, and especially those, who could not have children, would start fasting. The fast concluded on the feast of the Transfiguration, when they went on a pilgrimage to the famous monastery of St. Garabed of Moush.
ԳԻՏԷ՞ԻՐ ԹԷ...
DID YOU KNOW?...
In the Armenian Church, there is another reason to commemorate Ascension Day. On this date in 1441, the throne of the Catholicos of All Armenians was returned to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in the city of Vagharshapat after a thousand years of being settled in various cities throughout the country. Following a resolution of the National Assembly gathered in Vagharshapad, the Patriarchal See was relocated from the city of Sis in Western Armenia to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Following his vision of Christ striking the ground with a golden hammer, St. Gregory the Illuminator had founded the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin in 303. However, less than 200 years later, in 484, the Patriarchal See was forced to relocate, and for the next 1000 years, settled in various cities throughout Armenia.
ՄԱՆՏՈՌԼԱ
Քրիստոնէական պատկե-
րագրութեան մէջ, Համբար-
ձումի, Պայծառակերպութեան
ինչպէս նաեւ այլ տեսարան-
ներուն մէջ, Յիսուս Քրիստոսը
կը պատկերուի Մանտոռլային
Մանտոռլան Յիսուսը պարու-
րող նշաձեւ (էլիպսաձեւ) փա-
MANDORLA
In Christian iconography the Mandorla, (Italian: “almond”) is and almond- shaped aureole of light surrounding the entire figure of Christ and is the most concise way to express His majesty, glory and divinity in holy icons. It had become a standard attribute of Christ in scenes such as Transfiguration, the Ascension and in other scenes involving the resurrected or celestia l Christ. The mandorla is used to show the glory which is beyond what we see. This is why the mandorla is found surrounding Jesus in Icons of the Ascension, Transfiguration revealing His divinity.
On the occasion of Ascension of our Lord, the following names are celebrated: HAMPARTZUM, HAMPIG, HAMPO
Requested by
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To make a donation to Holy Trinity Armenian Church, please use any of the following payment methods. Kindly provide your full postal address so we can issue and send your tax deductible receipt. E-Transfer via info@TorontoArmenianChurch.com
Cheque: payable to Holy Trinity Armenian Church Over the phone: 416 431 3001 ext. 2 or 3
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Since 1928, the Holy Trinity Armenian Church proudly offers a range of services that cater to the needs of our vibrant community!
Contact us to discover a welcoming sanctuary where traditions thrive, hearts are nourished, and souls find solace.
Tel: 416 431 3001
Email: info@TorontoArmenianChurch.com
The Annual Seniors’ Celebration Day is one of the most cherished events at Holy Trinity Armenian Church, lovingly organized by the dedicated volunteers of the Visitation Committee.
Our beloved seniors are warmly invited to participate in a special Divine Liturgy at 10:30 am and receive Holy Communion. Following the service, they will enjoy a delicious homemade meal, thoughtfully prepared by our wonderful volunteers.
The celebration continues with music, singing, and plenty of joyful dancing!
Please contact us to register your name or the name of a loved one: 416-431-3001 htacvisit@gmail.com
We look forward to celebrating together!
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