Western Diocese e-Newsletter
Dear Reader
Celebrating Christmas and the New Year with Family
The Blessed Birth of Christ, our Lord, and the New Year shall vividly express the spiritual transformation of our lives. This Miraculous Birth is the arsenal of our spiritual strength and God’s invitation to us to lead a New Life.
By tradition, the Armenian family celebrates Christmas on January 6th. We must cherish the holiness and understand the significance of this date in our lives. Preserving our Christian identity and our cultural values in the Diaspora are vital to our existence as a people, for the challenges facing our future generations will confront their spiritual strength. We must stay loyal to the teachings of our church forefathers.
According to tradition, Armenian families would attend the celebration of the Divine Liturgy to hear the news of the Blessed Birth of Christ. Following the service, the family would gather at the house of the family elder and would pray around the family table. The gathering itself symbolizes the vision of leading a Christian life, the sanctity of a family, the wisdom to lead a humanitarian life and many others which define the uniqueness and the essence of an Armenian family. From generation to generation, the family elders would recall fond memories of the past and share them with loved ones. The act of giving presents during Christmas has graced Armenian families for centuries.
We must cherish the tradition of attending Church on Christmas day. By praying collectively, we strengthen the foundations and contribute to the mission of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is no secret that we live in a world dominated by materialism. Mass media excels in devaluing the miracle of Christmas by portraying the Blessed Day as a crazy shopping holiday. The Church, the House of God, is where the faithful find peace, shelter and spiritual consolation. The Church is the safe haven of the faithful.
My dear faithful in Christ, let us honor the tradition of gathering around the dinner table and celebrating the Birth of Christ, our Lord with prayer. It is in the Blessed Birth of Christ where we find the meaning of God’s Love for humanity. Visit relatives and loved ones on Christmas Day, spread the news of the Birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and convey your sincere Christmas wishes to your loved ones.
Let us humbly extend our helping hand to those institutions which convey God’s Love and spread the Gospel of Christ.
Dear faithful, it is our wish that you preserve or even establish a tradition of prayer on Christmas. When you come home from Church and as you gather around the Christmas dinner table, remember to say the “Lord’s Prayer,” to read about the Blessed Birth of Christ in the Gospel according to Luke and to sing the hymn “Khorhurt Medz.” To serve as a guide, we are enclosing them with our message.
“Christ is Born and Revealed!
Blessed is the Revelation of Christ, our Lord!”
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian
Primate
The Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, providing spiritual guidance and leadership to the Armenian Apostolic community, is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization comprised of more than 50 churches in 16 western states. It was established in 1898 as the Diocese of the Armenian Church encompassing the entire United States and Canada. In 1927 the Western Diocese was formed to exclusivly serve the western United States.
3325 North Glenoaks Blvd. Burbank, CA 91504
Tel: (818) 558-7474 Fax: (818) 558-6333
E-mail: info@armenianchurchwd.com
Website: www.armenianchurchwd.com
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