The Feast of Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia

On July 11, 2021, Armenian Apostolic Holy Church celebrated one of the five major feasts - the Feast of Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ or Vardavar. Divine Liturgy was celebrated on the occasion of the Feast at the churches of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

Liveliness prevailed in the churches from the morning.

The faithful from Tbilisi and other Armenian-populated settlements were coming to church with great enthusiasm in order to become a participant of the Feast of Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ or, as people say, celebration of Vardavar.

Rev. Father Archimandrite Nshan Hmayakyan, the newly-appointed assistant to the Diocesan Primate, celebrated festive Divine Liturgy under the presidency of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, Rev. Father Archimandrite Kirakos Davtyan in the Diocesan Headquarters - the Cathedral of Saint George (Surb Gevorg). The day had a special mystery for the newly-appointed priest because after his ordination as a priest, Rev. Father Nshan had celebrated his first Divine Liturgy on the feast of Vardavar and he vowed to celebrate the Feast in his life by offering a Divine Liturgy.

The celebrant properly preached about the Divine mystery of the day and encouraged the faithful to recover with Jesus, to live a new life with Jesus Christ, a life which will bring kindness, love, solidarity and spiritual enlightenment to humanity. Rev. Father urged the faithful to enrich their lives with spiritual values, good deeds, mercy and forgiveness.

A the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Diocesan Primate offered his blessings and congratulations to the faithful and presented Rev. Father Archimandrite Nshan Hmayakyan, who was appointed to serve at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia by the Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

The tradition of sprinkling water or Vardavar which comes from pagan era and has received a Christian meaning, expresses today.

Blessing of Water in the pool placed in the churchyard was offered under the presidency of Rev. Father Archimandrite Kirakos Davtyan and with the participation of clergy, and afterwards the festive joyful mood and the tradition of sprinkling water on each other began. Those young and the elderly, guests and participants of the Divine Liturgy, all the faithful who were present took part in the happy and lively scene of being cleansed with rosewater.

Post-Liturgy festive celebration on the occasion of the Feast of Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ took place at Saint Savior (Surb Prkich) church in Batumi, Saint Gregory the Illuminator (Surb Grigor Lusavorich) church in Akhaltsikhe, Holy Cross (Surb Khach) church in Akhalkalaki, Saint Sarkis (Surb Sargis) church in Ninotsminda, as well as at the churches and chapels in Kvemo Kartli region and nearby villages. Afterwards a festive hospitality took place everywhere.