ARMENIANS CELEBRATE TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS WITH MUSIC, SERVICE.Byline: Virginia Gonzalez Daily News Staff Writer Christmas was over for the majority of 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. Christians, but for Apostolic ap·os·tol·ic ap·os·tol·i·cal adj. 1. Of or relating to an apostle. 2. a. Of, relating to, or contemporary with the 12 Apostles. b. Armenians, Christmas arrived Saturday. At Holy Martyrs
In Germany, a state-maintained secondary school that prepares pupils for higher academic education. This type of nine-year school originated in Strasbourg in 1537. to celebrate the traditional Armenian Christmas with a two-hour service that involved festive singing, priest chants, candle lighting and prayers. "Everyone is excited and happy because their traditional Christmas will be celebrated with family and friends," said Abla Seropian, one of six members of the church's Ladies' Guild, who greeted each of the worshipers and handed out lapel stickers with a "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" message in Armenian. Handing out the stickers also helped them keep count of attendance. Jan. 6 marks what followers followers see dairy herd. of the Eastern Orthodox faith see as the true Christmas. Some historians believe that other Christian leaders moved the holiday to Dec. 25 in 336 A.D. to counter the pagan feast of Satyurnalia, which celebrated the winter solstice winter solstice n. In the Northern Hemisphere, the solstice that occurs on or about December 22. winter solstice Noun and honored the ancient Roman harvest god. Members of the Armenian Apostolic Church exchange gifts on Christmas Eve which, for them, is Jan. 5. The highlight of the Armenian Christmas on Jan. 6 is the blessing of holy water and bread, which are given to worshipers to take home for a special dinner, said the Rev. Vicken Vassilian of Holy Martyrs church. Many worshipers arrived for the church's only service of the day at noon and had the opportunity to be blessed by Vassilian and kiss a palm-size holy cross he held as he walked through the seating area with a smoking incense incense, perfume diffused by the burning of aromatic gums or spices. Incense was used in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome and is mentioned in the Old and the New Testaments. It is also found in the major religions of Asia. chamber suspended by a chain that scented the air. Elegantly dressed, families clutched their children's hands as they answered the priest's prayers aloud in Armenian and sang along with an approximate dozen-member choir who wore gowns and shook bells to an organist's music. This year's Christmas message stressed peace, community cooperation and "to keep the spirit of Christmas in our hearts, to follow Christ's steps," Vassilian said. "When it's Christmas, you feel something extraordinary. The Christmas spirit is something else," Vassilian said. "How could God come from heaven and be born as a human being? It's a mystery and it is my message that when God comes to the world, we have to give and try our best, to give to others and the community for what he gives us." CAPTION(S): PHOTO Photo (1) The Rev. Vicken Vassilian addresses parishioners Saturday during a holiday service. (2) A woman lights a candle at the back of Holy Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church. John Lazar/Special to the Daily News |
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