IT'S CHRISTMAS ONCE AGAIN FOR ARMENIAN-AMERICANS.Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer While most Christians only celebrate Christmas once a year, it actually comes twice for Armenian-Americans: once in December and once today. Armenian-American families celebrate on Dec. 25, often getting together with relatives and friends for dinner. But the Armenian church Armenian Church, autonomous Christian church, sometimes also called the Gregorian Church. Its head, a primate of honor only, is the catholicos of Yejmiadzin, Armenia; Karekin II became catholicos in 1999. recognizes Jan. 6 as the day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ Jesus Christ: see Jesus. Jesus Christ 40 days after Resurrection, ascended into heaven. [N.T.: Acts 1:1–11] See : Ascension Jesus Christ kind to the poor, forgiving to the sinful. [N.T. because it never adopted the Dec. 25 Christmas that churches in the West began marking in the fourth century. So today, many Armenian churches in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, will be packed with congregants. Armenian-Americans also spread Christmas celebrations into New Year's Eve, meeting to exchange greetings and presents. ``The unique thing about this whole thing is around the new year all the commotion, the gift exchange, the Santa Claus Santa Claus: see Nicholas, Saint. Santa Claus jolly, gift-giving figure who visits children on Christmas Eve. [Christian Tradition: NCE, 1937] See : Christmas Santa Claus is out of the way and Christmas is not overshadowed by anything else,'' said the Rev. Vazken Atmajian 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. ``It's Christ's birthday, and we spend the whole day with prayers and church services,'' he said. The Armenian church is part of the Christian Orthodox world, and some other Eastern Orthodox churches also celebrate Christmas on a different day, Jan. 7. In the case of the Armenian church, the difference over dates is a result of Armenia not having been part of the Roman Empire when the pope in Rome ordered Christmas to be celebrated Dec. 25. Armenians also maintain their nation never recognized pagan celebrations associated with the winter solstice on Dec. 25, so it would not have made sense to tie Christmas to winter solstice, as church leaders in the West did. Accountant Rouben Gourjian, 64, of Glendale was expecting to have more than 25 guests at his home Thursday night to celebrate Armenian Christmas, also known as theophany the·oph·a·ny n. pl. the·oph·a·nies An appearance of a god to a human; a divine manifestation. [Medieval Latin theophania, from Late Greek theophaneia : Greek theo- . Singing and a meal with fish, a symbol of Christianity, are part of the festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. . Gourjian, an ethnic Armenian, left Iran in 1975 and brought his two sons. His boys were happy to celebrate Dec. 25 and Jan. 6. ``There was no question, this is Armenian and this is Western and we accept it just like that,'' Gourjian said. ``Just like the dual identity that we carry inside. We are Armenian but we are also American.'' Alex Dobuzinskis, (818) 546-3304 alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com |
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