Median Day (Mijink): Great Lent is Halfway Through

On March 26, 2025, Great Lent for Christians reaches its midpoint, as it is the 24th day of Lent, known as Median Day (Mijink).

The Median Day was celebrated at the Cathedral of Saint George in Tbilisi with a evening Response of Souls Service offered under the presidency of His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

At the conclusion, the Diocesan Primate offered his blessing to the faithful present. Reflecting on the mystery of the day, His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan wished the faithful to journey through the second half of Great Lent with love and faith, purity of soul, and prayer. He encouraged them to continue fasting, spiritually strengthened and empowered, to reach the feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Christ—the celebration of Easter.

The Armenian faithful celebrate Median Day with folk customs and traditions. Staying true to the tradition of baking bagharj or gata for the occasion, delicious gatas were placed on the Holy Altars of Armenian churches in Tbilisi. According to custom, a token is always placed inside the Median Day gata. The person who finds the token in their piece is believed to have good luck for the year. The blessed gatas in the two churches—Cathedral of St. George and St. Echmiadzin in Avlabari—were distributed to the people. Some received the traditional token: blessed crosses placed in the gatas at the initiative of Arkadi Hovakimyan and Karen Darbinyan, the cross-bearer of the churches. This became a beautiful surprise for many.

The feast of Median Day was also solemnly celebrated in other churches of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia. Everywhere, the day became festive, marking the approach of the end of Great Lent.