Merry Christmas! Christ Came to Enlighten Our Souls, to Fill Them with Love and Peace

• 01.06.2017, 10:14
•  No-politics

-Christ is Born and Revealed!

- Blessed is the Revelation of Christ!

On January 6, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Holy Birthday of Jesus Christ. This is one of those few holidays that is not only nice and celebrated with the family, but has a great meaning in it – "For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people" (Titus 2:11).

The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the two Epiphanies together – Christmas and the Baptism of Christ. These festives are called Epiphanies as being born from Holy Virgin Christ appeared as a human and with the baptism of virgin-born man the Divinity of Jesus Christ became known.

Christ was baptized by John and it was that time that he was called Christ, which was witnessed by the Father, the Holy Spirit and John the Baptist - a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased" (Matthew 3:17). It was that day that the meaning of Holy Trinity appeared – with Son’s baptism, Father’s voice and the Spirit of God descending as a dove.

One week before Christmas, from December 30 to January 5 evening is a lenting period, during which people eat only plant-origin food. The holiday begins on the evening of January 5, after the Candlelighting Liturgy in the Church. Candlelighting symbolizes the divine light, Church's blessing, which people after the liturgy take to their homes in the form of burning candles.

On January 6, in the morning Holy Mass is being given at the church, which is followed by Blessing of Water, which symbolizes Christ's baptism in the River Jordan. Then the miraculous water, blessed with Cross and Holy Muron, is distributed to the people, to heal the spiritual and physical illnesses.

Christmas celebration then continues in the families – gathering around tables and remembering that Christ was born to be with us, to share our difficulties and clear our sins. Christ came so as no one on earth feels himself forgotten and left alone, He came to enlighten our souls and keep them warm, to fill them with love and peace.

Christmas is not just a merry and beautiful holiday, it is rather a day of spiritual revival, a day, when Christ is born in our hearts purifying our souls.

May the love of Christ, His power and peace be in our hearts and families! Merry Christmas!!!