Candlelight Divine Liturgy of the Holy Resurrection in the St. Gayane Monastery
09.04.2023
On April 8, Holy Saturday, the eve of the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; the Brotherhood of the Mother See, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; participated in the Candlelight Divine Liturgy in St. Gayane Monastery. The Celebrant was His Eminence Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Prior to the Evening Services, different parts of the Bible were read, following which four Deacons of the Mother See read letters of the Prophet Daniel.
During the Divine Liturgy, in his sermon, His Eminence Archbisop Arshak reflected on the sacrament of the Holy Resurrection, he mentioned in particular. "For about two thousand years, we Christians, have been going through the path of suffering with Jesus, reliving His Passion, crucifixion and death and participating in the joy of the Resurrection.
Many people tried to doubt the validity of this miracle, the greatest event that ever happened in the history of mankind, pushing it into the field of mythology. Attempts to deny the historicity of Christ's Resurrection, however, were condemned to failure, condemned by the insurmountable power of modern historical and archaeological discoveries and data”.
The Celebrant also emphasized that the miracle of Christ's Resurrection reveals the purpose of human life, gives everyone the hope of resurrection, and transforms death-stricken degenerates.
“With faith in Christ's Resurrection, human life ceases to be a period of time stretching from birth to death; with Christ's Resurrection, earthly life becomes the foundation of eternal life. It is for this reason that those who believe in the Resurrection of Christ look beyond what is mortal, beyond where eternal life stretches”, stated the Celebrant, adding that the Resurrection of Christ changes our life lifestyle and views.
“The Resurrection of Christ turns work into a blessing and not a means of oppressing others, humiliating others and satisfying one's own greed. Those who believe in the Resurrection of Christ do not consider the Homeland just as a place of residence, but as a sacred relic of identity, and they interweave love of God with patriotism," mentioned Archbishop Arshak.
At the conclusion, His Eminence Archbishop urged the faithful to be encouraged and be strong, to remove anxieties and fears, because we have hope for the Resurrection, we have a promise from the Lord that immortality is our inheritance, we have a testimony that the power of death has been destroyed, we have a message from the Lord that our life is not meaningless and without purpose.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Catholicos of All Armenians ascended the Holy Altar and lit a candle, symbolizing the light of Christ.
Following the Divine Liturgy, the Brotherhood of the Mother See went to the Pontifical Residence, where, under the presidency of the Pontiff of All Armenians an Easter Home-Blessing Service was offered.
