Photos: Pre-Festival of The Presentation of Jesus at the Mother See

On February 14, the Armenian Apostolic Church will celebrate the feast of The Presentation of Jesus, which symbolizes the 40-day offering of the infant Jesus to the temple.

The announcement of this joyous celebration took place on the evening of February 13. The clergy of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin participated in the evening service at St. Gayane Monastery.

At the end of the service, presided over by His Grace Archbishop Tigran Galpakyany, the precursor of the feast was celebrated, followed by the first Anastasian ceremony of the year, during which the four corners of the world were blessed.

Subsequently, under the singing of the hymn “Christ is Glorified,” His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, lit a fire symbolizing Christ from the candle of the St. Gayane altar, conveying the life-giving light to the faithful present.

On this occasion, students from the Gevorgian Spiritual Seminary presented performances of spiritual and national songs. Years ago, the feast of The Presentation was proclaimed by His Holiness Karekin II as the Day of Blessing for Newlyweds. In this regard, on February 14, at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy held in churches, a blessing ceremony for newlywed couples will be performed.