That Ceremony That Takes Place In Graveyards

[bellthecat]

I mentioned in another posting about little niches in the grave markers in an Armenian cemetery, where people can place candles or incense. What's the ceremony called when lots of people, mostly women, go to graveyards and light candles, little fires, etc., beside the graves of relatives. Is it only once a year? Can someone tell me more about its history, origins, etc?

[ED]

I think it is know as "Merelots"

[Maral]

I also think that you are talking about Merelots,rememberence of the dead...I dont' know the history,but logic tells me that it is to remember and show respect for those who are no longer with us...there could be several major holidays this day follows,the only two I can think of now is Dzenoont(Christmas) and Easter.

[Armen]

If I remember right there's also one called "Srbkhech" ( in some dialect) or "Surbkhach" (Holy Cross), and happens once a year some time in early October. It has strong connections to some pre-Christian religious ceremony. Although I may be wrong. Usually, some Armenians (mainly decendants of people from Bitlis, Van, Mush, Sasun area) also bring some food that the dead person liked. Mostly their favourite fruites and some lavash. Anyway, that's what my grandmother always did. Edited June 3, 2004 by ArmenSarg

[Arpa]

Yes it is Merelots, more correctly Merelots Or, the Day of the Dead. There are several of them, mostly the Monday after a major holiday. The main one being the Monday after Easter which is in memory of Jesus' resurrection i.e. the empty tomb that Mary the Mother and Mary Magdalene went and... you know the rest of the story.

This does not mean that it is originally a Christian rite, it may have had perChristian roots judging from the Marys' act who were in a sense not Christians.

 

When I said above that the custom may have preChristian roots, it seems like nowadays it has come around 360 degrees and gone right back to its pagan ways.

Yes as mentioned above by ArmenSarg people did take some food etc. but the way I remember, even if the people meant well, it is somewhat reminiscent of the American Memorial Day, of late the whole thing had turned into a big festival, a carnival if you will. There would all kinds of vendors, of cold drinks, sometimes in those parts of the world the weather during Eater would be brutally hot and humid. There would be vendors of all kinds, drinks, food, candy and other trinkets, just imagine a county fair or a carnival and you get the picture. Yet, the most memorable thing about those days would be how it was the single day of the year when the clergy would line their pockets more than any other time. They would walk from grave to grave, recite some mumbojumbo, burn some incence and collect a fee.

 

Pagan you say??

Edited June 3, 2004 by Arpa

[bellthecat]

Here is an engraving from the 1730s that shows the event. Most of the participants do seem to be women.

[Armen]

Yet, the most memorable thing about those days would be how it was the single day of the year when the clergy would line their pockets more than any other time. They would walk from grave to grave, recite some mumbojumbo, burn some incence and collect a fee.

 

Pagan you say??

This is so true. And they complain about the numbers of sectants in Armenia. I think our Catholicos and his gang need to be tortured in Khor Virab for 14 years again to realy understand what "Holy" means and how Grigor Lusavorich earned the name and the loyalty of believers.