Tiarn’ndaraj bonfire lit at the churches of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia

On February 13, 2022, after the Evening Service the eve of the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Tiarn’ndaraj) began which contains the Presentation of the 40 day-old Christ Child to the Temple by Virgin Mary. Tiarn’ndaraj (Trndez) is one of the people’s favorite festivities, which is celebrated in families with newly married couples.

By the order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,Tiarn’ndaraj was proclaimed as a day of blessing of newly married couples. Those couples, who got married in sacred temples during the last year were in churches. Spiritual fathers blessed the couples’ marriage wishing them many years of happy and peaceful family life together surrounded by many children and relatives.

The eve of the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ was solemnly celebrated at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia. During the Service, in the Cathedral of Saint George (Surb Gevork), under the presidency of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia and with the participation of clergy, the attendees heard about the mystery of the feast, after which the Blessing of the Four Corners of the World (Andastan) service was offered, the four corners of the world and candles were blessed as a symbol of Christ's light.

Burning a bonfire is maintained from the folk tradition of Tiarn’ndaraj. At the concluson of the Evening Service, the Diocesan Primate burned a bonfire with a candle lit from the Lantern of Altara. The Tiarn'ndaraj bonfire burned in the yard and doubled the festive mood.

Attaching a great importance to the presenting as a nation out of the Motherland, the procedure of maintaining national and church traditions and passing them to the future generations, as well a in order to make the people's favorite feast even more joyful, with the blessings of the Diocesan Primate, the Diocesan “Hayartun”Educational, Culturaland youth Center have prepared a magnificent concert under the leadership of the Center Head Eugenia Markosyan and the coordinator of the Department of Culture Suren Abramyan. Following performers took part in the concert: “Nerses the racious: (“Nerses Shnorhali”) Youth Choir of the Center (Choirmaster: Marie Abulyan, pianist: Karen Mirzoyan), duduk and dhol groups (teachers: Ivane Mkrtchyan, sergo Malkhasyan), ''Taron'' Folk Dance Ensemble (Choreographer: Suen Abramyan), “Hayos band” vocal-instrumental ensemble (Head: Vladimir Asaturov), soloists Aida Bazoyan, Marianna Nersesova, Arman Papikyan, Edvin Hakhoyan, Sofya Oganezyan, sound operator Sergey Arutyunyan. “Jeyran” Dance Ensemble, led by its artistic director and choreographer Svetlana Yeritsyan participated in the concert.

Eugenia Markosyan, who conducted the concert, announced joyful songs and dances, and the round dance, the excitement of jumping over the bonfire followed one another.

Hospitality was organized with the support by clergymen of the Cathedral of Saint George in Tbilisi and Saint Etchmiadzin church in Avlabari, as well as Godfathers of churches’ cross Artak Avetisyan and Samvel Poghosyan. Beautiful fireworks became became a wonderful conclusion in a line with the joyful mood of the festivity.

On February 14, Tiarn’ndaraj Divine Liturgy was celebrated in Saint Etchmiadzin church in Avlabari. The feast was celebrated with great solemn in churches in Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kvemo-Kartli, Batumi and other churches of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.