Holy Holiday: Why Christmas comes 11 days "late" i

[MosJan]

Holy Holiday: Why Christmas comes 11 days "late" in Armenia

 

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By Nara Markossian

ArmeniaWeek reporter

Most of the Christian world celebrates Christmas on December 25. But Armenia, the first nation to adopt Christianity as its State Religion (301), marks the birth of Christ on January 6.

 

Why?

 

The difference has deep roots, as explained by Arkadi Tandilian, cleric of the Holy See of Echmiadzin:

 

"All Christians used to celebrate God's Appearance or birth of Christ on January 6. However in the 4th century A.D. the Roman Catholic Church decided to celebrate Christ's Birth on December 25 and Feast of the Epiphany (Christ's Baptism) on January 6."

 

To explain the change:

 

As far back as the Pagan period, December 25 was a gala day of celebrations, marking the birth of the Sun god, Mithra.

 

In Europe, particularly in Rome, that celebration was a great ceremony, where numerous people participated. Now, the Vatican stands on a place that was once the center of the Roman celebration of Mithra's birth.

 

When Christianity became the State Religion of Rome, measures were taken to rid society of all Pagan symbolism.

 

"It was decided to celebrate Jesus' Birth on the same day when Mithra's birth was celebrated to be able to wipe Mithra from people's minds and to fix hope in the faith of Christ," says preceptor of divinity of Mkhitarian union Father Serob Chamulian.

 

And only Armenians continue to celebrate Christmas on January 6, marking also the baptism of Jesus on that day.

 

Armenians start to celebrate Christmas on the evening of January 5 with a candle-lighting Mass. Believers are encouraged to take burning candles to their homes to signify Jesus' invigorating fire.

 

Despite the fact that those days New Year's tables are full of tasty and varied dishes, believers prefer to eat fish and vegetables and drink wine during supper after the candle Mass.

 

On January 6, the ceremony of Water Sanctification takes place during Christmas Mass.

 

Water Sanctification symbolizes Christ's Baptism. Huge basins full of water are placed on stage in a church. Then a cleric sanctifies that water by adding holy water.

 

After the Water Sanctification ceremony, believers take the holy water home in bottles or vials. (Typically, there isn't enough water for everybody that day and an uncontrollable bustle takes place in churches among people waving soft-drink bottles toward the priests, trying to get their portion of holy water.)

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The water is believed to have miraculous powers. Believers drink the water, hoping for cures. They also pour the water in the corners of their homes as a way of exorcizing evil spirits and for other purposes.

Photos by Armenpress

 

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