It's Unclear Why This Year the Day After Easter is a Working Day, Though We Didn't Expect More: Father Isayi Khachaturian

We were expecting that at least the day after the Holy Easter would be non-working. This was stated by Father Isayi Khachaturian in an interview with Tert.am, addressing the fact that the day following the celebration of the Holy Resurrection is a working day.

It is recalled that the day after the festive period is a day of remembrance, yet its status as a working day or a non-working day is determined by government decision.

The priest found it incomprehensible that this year it is a working day, although he noted that they did not expect more, as there has been a similar attitude from the government regarding days of remembrance in the past. “We must take into account that this year we have so many victims; in any case, people will go to the cemeteries on that day. Therefore, it could have been more considerate to make it a non-working day,” he stated, emphasizing that this would be a form of respect for our departed.

“After all this, I would like us to be able to rise again in faith, with love for one another, and live our lives in a way that the sacrifice of our fallen soldiers is not in vain,” he added.

Father Isayi mentioned that this year, particularly, many citizens were inquiring about the ceremonies related to visiting cemeteries. “The church’s order and rule is that on the day of remembrance, we should visit the cemeteries; the church urges and teaches people not to visit on Easter day. The concept of old or new deceased does not exist; in any case, people go to the cemeteries on the day of remembrance,” he said.

People also ask whether they should dye eggs if they have deceased relatives. “Eggs are definitely dyed in all cases because the red color symbolizes the blood of Christ shed for everyone, both the deceased and the living; therefore, whether there are deceased or not, the eggs should be dyed,” he stated.