ARMENIANS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS.Byline: Lee Condon Daily News Staff Writer Thousands of Armenian Eastern Orthodox Christians This is primarily a list of notable people who contributed to the history of Eastern Orthodox Christianity's theology or culture. However it is also for people whose Eastern Orthodox identity is an important part of their notability. celebrated Christmas on Monday in services held throughout the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . ``In the early centuries, the Christian people used to celebrate Christmas and the baptism of Jesus In the synoptic gospels, Jesus is baptised by John the Baptist. In these accounts, John the Baptist preaches repentance before the coming judgment, baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and the imminent arrival of one far greater than he. Christ on Jan. 6,'' said Archbishop Yeprem Tabakian of St. Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church The Armenian Apostolic Church (Armenian: Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցի, Hay Arakelagan Yegeghetzi), sometimes called the Armenian Orthodox Church or the in Glendale. ``We keep the tradition.'' Most shops owned by local Armenian Christians in Glendale were closed, as were Armenian private schools, in observance of the holiday. In the last 10 years, a large wave of tens of thousands of immigrants of Armenian descent have settled in Glendale and surrounding communities, joining a large existing Armenian community there. Besides the thousands who visited St. Mary's on Sunday and Monday, a large service was held at St. Peter's St. Peter's or similar terms may mean: Places
n. pl. prel·a·cies 1. a. The office or station of a prelate. b. Prelates considered as a group. Also called prelature. 2. Church government administrated by prelates. of the Armenian Apostolic Church was to conclude the day with services in Montebello. Garo Garabedian, owner of an eyewear store in downtown Glendale called SunKlass and More, said he and his family attended Christmas Eve services Sunday and went to church again Monday morning. Garabedian said the Armenian Christmas is focused around religious services. ``Santa Claus doesn't come today,'' Garabedian said. In Armenian households, gifts are exchanged not on Christmas but on New Year's Day New Year's Day, among ancient peoples the first day of the year frequently corresponded to the vernal or autumnal equinox, or to the summer or winter solstice. In the Middle Ages it was celebrated among Christians usually on Mar. 25. , he said. ``We believe the first thing you do in the new year is to give gifts,'' he said. Tabakian said, however, that the Armenian Christmas is closely linked with New Year's celebrations. ``It brings a freshness. It brings us a new spirit of working in our community,'' Tabakian said. Families celebrated with traditional dinners on Sunday and Monday. On Christmas Eve, Eastern Orthodox Christians end a weeklong Christmas fast during which they abstain from eating meat. On Christmas Day, holy bread and wine are served with dinner. ``The elder men of the family bless the table,'' Tabakian said. On Monday, Tabakian's sermon focused on the life of Christ in Bethlehem, and how it related to congregants' lives. ``The warmness of Bethlehem should be with our country, Armenia, and with the people who are living in Armenia. The warmness of Bethlehem should be here in our family life,'' Tabakian said. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Agop Agopyan directs the choir during Monday's church service at St. Peter Armenian Church in Van Nuys. Michael Owen Baker/Daily News |
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