EVE OF THE FAST OF CATECHUMENS

The Fast of Catechumens begins on January 20. It is peculiar only to the Armenian Church. It begins three weeks before the Great Lent. In ancient times people could eat only bread and salt during the fast of Catechumens. On those days it was not allowed to celebrate Divine Liturgy either.

The meaning of the Fast of Catechumens is the purification of the five human senses from pagan impurity. In the ancient Church there was a custom to fast during five days before baptism. St. Gregory the Illuminator ordered King Tiridates and others to fast for five days before baptism in order to get freed of the evil. That is the reason also for fasting of Catechumens to be called "fast of salvation" from the evil.

According to the tradition, the fasting of Catechumens was initiated by St. Gregory the illuminator in memory of the above-mentioned practice. There are two explanations regarding the name of this feast.

It is called the fast of Catechumens: As the precursor of the Great Lent, and as the first Armenian fast.

On the fifth day of the fasting of Catechumens, on Friday, the remembrance day of the Prophet Jonah is celebrated, but it is celebrated not as the feast of Prophet Jonah, but as the memory of an example of great repentance and abstinence which Jonah urged. At times, wrongly, the fasting of Catechumens was called the fast of St. Sarkis, because the Armenian Church celebrates the feast of St. Sarkis on Saturday following the fast. In Middle Ages the Byzantine and the Georgian Churches blamed the Armenian Church for the fasting of Catechumens, relating it to St. Sarkis, to whom they ascribed sorcery. According to the testimonies of Armenian medieval writers. Greek and Latin Churches also had the fasting of Catechumens in ancient times.

Episcopal Ordination of Fr. Daniel Findikyan Scheduled for May

The Eastern Diocese is pleased to announce that a date has been set for the episcopal ordination of the Diocesan Primate, the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan.
 

His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, has confirmed that on the weekend of May 11-12, 2019, he will consecrate Fr. Findikyan as a bishop of the Armenian Church, in a solemn ceremony at the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, in the Republic of Armenia.
 

The Primate will return to New York to celebrate his antranig badarak (inaugural Divine Liturgy) as a bishop in St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral. That is currently scheduled for Saturday, May 18. A reception for the entire public will follow.

Further details of both the episcopal consecration and the inaugural badarak will be announced soon. At this time, arrangements are being made to offer travel packages to Armenia for those who wish to witness the consecration of Fr. Findikyan by the hand of His Holiness Karekin II.

Fr. Findikyan was elected as the Diocese's 12th Primate on May 4, 2018, by the delegates of the 116th Diocesan Assembly. His election was blessed and confirmed by the Catholicos of All Armenians on May 8. Fr. Findkyan is the first clergyman born in America to serve in the capacity of a diocesan primate, and he will be the second American-born clergyman to be elevated to the episcopate. The first was the late Bishop Houssig Bagdasian.

Catholicos Karekin II Leads Armenia's Parliament in Prayer

The new parliament of the Republic of Armenia opened its first session on January 14, with His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, offering prayerful opening remarks.

Congratulating the newly-elected parliamentarians, His Holiness said: "As the duly-elected representatives of the people, the obligation to develop new life in the Republic of Armenia rests on your shoulders."

"Having accepted a vow to promote justice, virtue, and love, we all have to stand together in one soul, one spirit-not in opposition, but in cooperation.... I am confident that within the Christian system of values, our people will continue to be creative; bright in mind and spirit; able to improve national life. Our centuries-old church, together with the people, will continue to support patriotic initiatives."

Addressing the parliamentarians directly, he said: "We bring the blessing of God to you and your activity. Your love towards the nation shall bring you strength, and keep you in the good graces of our people, for the prosperity of our country." He concluded his remarks by enjoining all the parliamentarians to recite together the Lord's Prayer.

Click here to read more in Armenian. To watch a recording of the session, with translation in English, click here.

Last month, staff from HSBC Bank Armenia donated gifts-books, puzzles, coloring books, instruments, trucks, dolls and stuffed animals-to some 400 kindergartners in Armenia's impoverished Berd region.

"Toy Drive" (as it's simply known) has become an annual Christmas initiative promoted by the bank's staff and managed by the Fund for Armenian Relief. It is geared toward ensuring that children from Armenia's impoverished communities receive special surprises for Christmas.

Children from the Paravakar Village School and Berd Kindergartens #2 and #3 received gifts during a visit from Dzmer Pap (aided by "elves" from HSBC Armenia). "This year, you considered our kids' Christmas wishes," said Naira Gyuzaryan, a teacher at Berd Kindergarten #3. "That doesn't happen very often in communities like this."

Read more on FAR's blog.

St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church 

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