St. Vartan Cathedral Announces Times of Christmas Service
NEW YORK—The Nativity and Baptism of Jesus Christ will be observed at New York’s St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral on Thurs., Jan. 5, and Fri., Jan. 6. A special liturgical schedule will be in effect for these “Armenian Christmas” serviceses.
On Armenian Christmas Eve, Jan. 5, there will be an Evening Service with Scripture Readings (by students from the Diocese’s Khrimian Lyceum) at 6:30 p.m. The Divine Liturgy will immediately follow, beginning at 7:15 p.m., celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian.
The St. Vartan Cathedral Choir, with the participation of students from the Diocese’s Khrimian Lyceum, will sing the Divine Liturgy, under the direction of the Maestro Khoren Mekanejian. A reception will take place following the services.
On Christmas Morning, Jan. 6, His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), will celebrate the Divine Liturgy. The Morning Service begins at 9:30 a.m., and the Divine Liturgy will follow at 10:30 a.m.
The St. Vartan Cathedral Choir will sing the sacred music under the direction of Maestro Mekanejian.
In Armenian tradition, this feast day commemorates not only the birth of Christ, but also His baptism by John the Baptist. The latter is remembered through the Blessing of Water ceremony, which will follow the Divine Liturgy. Dr. Raffy Hovanessian will serve as “godfather” of the Blessing of Water service.
After the cathedral’s Jan. 6 services, a Home Blessing Service and Christmas Reception will take place in the Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium. The Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble of the St. Thomas Armenian Church of Tenafly, N.J., will perform during the reception, which is free and open to all.
Concurrent with the Armenian Christmas observances, a special art exhibit will be on display in the Guild Hall and Yerevan Hall of the cathedral complex. In “Armenian Christmas and the Legacy of Armenian Artists,” curator Vicki Shoghag Hovanessian has assembled works by prominent Yerevan-based painters and by prolific American Armenian artists. Viewing hours are Jan. 5 from 1-6:30 p.m. (with an opening reception from 4:30-6:30 p.m.) and Jan. 6 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.
Armenian Christmas will also be observed at local parishes across the Eastern Diocese. While many parishes celebrate the feast on the Jan. 6 date, others will observe it on the following Sunday, Jan. 8. Please contact your local parish for the date and time of its Armenian Christmas celebration.
St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral is located at 630 Second Avenue (corner of 34th Street and Second Avenue), in New York City. For more information, call (212) 686-0710 or visit www.armenianchurch-ed.net.
