Armenians forcibly displaced from Artsakh experienced a deeply emotional Christmas Eve in Armenia on January 5, 2024 within the hallowed walls of St. Gayane Church in Etchmiadzin. Conducted by the Artsakh Diocese, this service marked an unprecedented moment for the Armenian community. For the very first time, the indigenous Armenians of Artsakh gathered to celebrate this sacred night on Armenian soil, away from their native lands.
The Chragaluyts, or Candlelight Divine Liturgy, holds a significant place in the heart of Armenian Christian practices. It’s a vivid embodiment of sacred light, mirroring the celestial glow of the Bethlehem Star, an important symbol in the Christian narrative. According to Christian texts, this star played a crucial role in guiding the Magi to the newborn Christ. The Chragaluyts service at St. Gayane Church is a pivotal cultural element, transcending the bounds of a mere religious rite. It weaves together faith and ancestral heritage, particularly resonating with Armenians displaced from Artsakh.
In this spiritually charged atmosphere, the act of taking lit candles and lamps back to their homes is a cherished tradition among the faithful. These candles are not only sources of physical light; they are laden with symbolism and considered carriers of blessings. The practice represents the transfer of the holy light from the church to the home, symbolizing the presence and protection of the divine in their personal lives.
The 2024 Christmas Eve celebration in Armenia for the people of Artsakh was not just a religious event; it was a poignant reminder of resilience, cultural identity and the enduring spirit of a community facing the challenges of displacement. It highlighted the deep-rooted traditions and the strong faith that continue to guide and comfort the Armenian people, especially those from Artsakh, in times of upheaval and change.
Armenians displaced from Artsakh wait outside the seventh century Saint Gayane Church in Etchmiadzin, Armenia on Christmas Eve, January 5, 2024Armenians displaced from Artsakh wait outside the seventh century Saint Gayane Church in Etchmiadzin, Armenia on Christmas Eve, January 5, 2024The Armenian Apostolic Church holds a Candlelight Divine Liturgy outside of Saint Gayane Church in Etchmiadzin, Armenia on Christmas EveHis Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians and the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church since 1999, outside of Saint Gayane Church in Etchmiadzin, Armenia on Christmas EveHis Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians and the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church since 1999, outside of Saint Gayane Church in Etchmiadzin, Armenia on Christmas EveArmenians displaced from Artsakh wait outside the seventh century Saint Gayane Church in Etchmiadzin, Armenia on Christmas Eve, January 5, 2024Armenians displaced from Artsakh wait outside of Saint Gayane Church with candles in Etchmiadzin, Armenia on Christmas Eve, January 5, 2024Armenians displaced from Artsakh wait outside the seventh century Saint Gayane Church in Etchmiadzin, Armenia on Christmas Eve, January 5, 2024Armenians from Armenia and Artsakh light candles inside Saint Gayane Church in Etchmiadzin, Armenia during Christmas Eve mass on January 5, 2024Armenians pray inside Saint Gayane Church located in Etchmiadzin, Armenia during Christmas Eve massArmenians from Armenia and Artsakh light candles inside Saint Gayane Church in Etchmiadzin, Armenia during Christmas Eve mass on January 5, 2024Armenians from Armenia and Artsakh light candles inside Saint Gayane Church in Etchmiadzin, Armenia during Christmas Eve mass on January 5, 2024Armenians attending Christmas Eve mass inside Saint Gayane Church in Etchmiadzin, Armenia on January 5, 2024Armenians attending Christmas Eve mass inside Saint Gayane Church in Etchmiadzin, Armenia on January 5, 2024Armenians from Armenia and Artsakh light candles inside Saint Gayane Church in Etchmiadzin, Armenia during Christmas Eve mass on January 5, 2024Armenians from Armenia and Artsakh light candles inside Saint Gayane Church in Etchmiadzin, Armenia during Christmas Eve mass on January 5, 2024
Anthony Pizzoferrato is an Italian American freelance photojournalist, documentarian and filmmaker based in Yerevan, Armenia. His work places emphasis on reporting and documenting conflicts, political events, complex social issues, human rights and cultural history within post-Soviet states and the Middle East while creating understanding, intimacy and empathy. His work on the war in Ukraine and protests in Yerevan has been published in Getty Reportage.
God bless the Armenian community of the Republic of Artsakh. Let us never give up the hope and resilience of returning to the Ancestral Armenian lands of Artsakh!
in the meantime, if we still believe in Christianity, then I implore and ask the Armenians of Haiastan to open your hearts, your homes, your charity, and look to help our brothers and sisters find shelter of proper housing, and employment.
My wish is for the majority to be able to stay in Armenia vs. becoming a diasporan Armenian.
God bless
thank you for a wonderful experience. it demonstrates the resilience of the Armenian people.
God bless the Armenian community of the Republic of Artsakh. Let us never give up the hope and resilience of returning to the Ancestral Armenian lands of Artsakh!
in the meantime, if we still believe in Christianity, then I implore and ask the Armenians of Haiastan to open your hearts, your homes, your charity, and look to help our brothers and sisters find shelter of proper housing, and employment.
My wish is for the majority to be able to stay in Armenia vs. becoming a diasporan Armenian.
God bless