Christmas Eve Candlelight Divine Liturgy
06.01.2017
On January 5, the Eve of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Jesus Christ, a candlelight Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The celebrant was His Grace Bishop Vardan Navasardyan, Director of the Christian Education Center.
Before the Divine Liturgy, an Evening Service was held and different Bible passages were read, then four deacons of Mother See read the prophecy of Daniel.
During the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Vardan reflected on the wonderment of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Jesus Christ.
“Why decades later, tonight on Christmas Eve, according to the order of the church feast, are we again drawn towards God? In order to bring the warm and welcoming light of the flame from the Church altars to our families, which as a symbol of the Light of the Lord will come into our lives to warm our soul, to establish kindness in our universal order.
In the Holy Nativity scene that the evangelists convey to us, Jesus' parents, Mary and Joseph, on finding no place to stop, take shelter in a cave. And then a shining star from the sky, which was the most brilliant and powerful, as a sign of God's revelation, appeared to the three wisemen. They were wealthy and influential in government, but walked in the pursuit of knowledge, crossed their life pathes and travelled towards that light. There they found Jesus and donated their life and achievements for God, the Creator of heaven and earth, He who came to eliminate human sin, to bring comfort to mankind, to bring justice to the poor and the needy, and justice for the righteous. He who came as a revelation of love, and He said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”.
Today, when we are on the eve of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Jesus Christ, first we have to reflect our prayers on the loving wonder of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have to question how we, as spiritual children of God, evaluate the mystery of this feast in our life. We know that God so loved man, His creation, that He gave His only begotten Son for that love, as the salvation of man and as a way to everlasting life.
Wherefore, we, dear beloved, must find the way of the cognition of that love, because if our deeds are dark, and we do not want them to be known, we are not true Christians. And if we recognize the Light of God, and if that light is glorified in our lives, then God is born in our life, our heart and soul”, stated Bishop Vardan.
He also urged the faithful, to ask that God raise the light of His wisdom in their mind, soul and life.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness ascended the Holy Alter and lit a candle, symbolizing Christ, and it was then placed in the Mother Cathedral for the faithful to have the opportunity to light their own candles, and take the light to their home symbolizing the light of the revealed Son of God.
Following the Divine Liturgy, the procession of clergy went to the Old Veharan where under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenian; an Christmas Home-Blessing Service was offered.
