The Feast of Christmas (Nativity) and Christ's Revelation as God (Theophany) is the celebration of our Lord Jesus Christ's birth, coming into the world, and the revelation of God's glory to all of humanity. The Armenian Church commemorates this all-important event in the lives of mankind with the celebration of a festive and joyous Divine Liturgy in our communities throughout the world. Through the fourth century, all of Christendom celebrated this holiday on January 6. Starting in the fifth century, however, the western churches moved the date for Christmas to December 25, in an attempt to overshadow the pagan feast of the "birth of the sun", (also known as the winter solstice), and replaced it with the celebration of the holy birth of the "True Light" and the revelation of Jesus as God.

The Armenian Church did not change her traditions, and preserved her canons maintained since apostolic times. Throughout the centuries, unaffected by outside forces, she has kept the date for Christmas firm, maintaining the correct date of the Holy Birth of Jesus Christ and His Baptism in the River Jordan as January 6.

In accordance with the Old Testament, no one had the right to conduct priestly duties, if he had not completed his 30 th year of life. Therefore, when Christ began to preach, (when his earthly ministry commenced), he was 30 years old. It was with that realization that the ancient church commemorated the birth and baptism of Jesus on the same day, (because Jesus began to preach only following His baptism), to which the Armenian Church has stayed faithful through the present day.

On the evening of January 5, the church celebrates a Christmas Eve Candlelight Divine Liturgy. In Armenian, the Divine Liturgy is called Chragaluytsi Patarag, ( Chragaluytsi Patarag: "chrag" or "mom" - candle, and "lutsanel" - to burn). This celebration of the Divine Liturgy is the sacred manifestation, or representation, of the Star of Bethlehem, which led the three "wise men", or Magi, to the infant Jesus. The star of the Holy Nativity, through its strength, was more brilliant than the sun, because it shone in the daylight as well as the night, as St. John Chrysostom compared it to the Old Testament's column of clouds. Chrysostom writes:

"Because it (the Star) appeared in order to show them (the Magi) the way to Palestine. When they came to Jerusalem, it hided itself. And when they left Herod after he had questioned them, and intended to walk to Bethlehem, the star reappeared to them again. This appearance and disappearance does not happen in the movement of an ordinary star, but it is due to a power which is, above measure, different from others. Because it did not march in a special way. But when it was necessary that they would march, it marched. And when they needed to stop, it stopped, thus controlling all the conditions of their march according to what was convenient for them. It was like the column of clouds in its conduct of the Jewish people.

"When they entered Jerusalem, the star was hidden from them, so that having lost their guide, they were compelled to ask the Jews, in order that the matter would become notorious and well-known to everybody... Thus the appearance and the disappearance brought a determined providence that had a special wisdom."

On January 7, the Church celebrates a solemn Divine Liturgy in memory for all souls that are rest, and conducts a requiem Repose of Souls Service.

Blessing of the Waters

On January 6, following the Divine Liturgy, the Blessing of the Waters service is conducted, which sacredly represents the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan. With special prayers and the singing of hymns, the water is blessed with the Holy Gospel, the Holy Cross, and is sanctified with the Holy Chrism (Muron). The Holy Cross, representing the baptized Christ, is immersed into the water, and through which we reverently plead, as was then in the Jordan, as now in our lives, that the Holy Spirit should descend, bless and wipe clean the water. The blessed water then becomes acceptable for baptism, to cleanse the sins of those who will be baptized and to heal the illnesses of those who will drink it. The blessed water is then distributed to the faithful.

Blessing of Homes on Holy Nativity

Part and parcel of the celebration of the Feast of Holy Nativity and Theophany is the service for the blessing of the home. Our priests, as per church tradition, visit and bless the homes of the faithful entrusted to their care, from January 6 through 13. More than the usual blessing, the meaning of the visit is to bring the great tiding of the Holy Birth to their homes, so all families under his (the priest's) spiritual care will be sheltered under the Holy Light of Christ.

During the blessing service, the priest blesses the home's bread, water and salt; which are three important basic elements in the survival of man. The priest also blesses all members of the family, and offering incense to God, requests that the Almighty always protect and keep them safe. Before and above all, the Blessing of the Home is the recognition and elevation by the Armenian Church of the Armenian family's cherished value and central role. As a constant and visible reminder of the blessing, at the conclusion of the service, the priest leaves a wafer (used in the preparation of Holy Communion) on the family table, which bears an image of our Lord.

The New Year - Amanor

The first day of the new year is called Amanor. It derives from the old Persian word Navasard (Navasard: "Nav" or "Nor"- new, and "Sareda" or "Tari" - year). In the old Armenian calendar, Navasard was the first month, and as a result, it has come to represent the beginning of the new year. "Amanor" is currently used in Armenia interchangeably with "New Year". With the New Year comes the Armenian tradition of giving presents to one another. (Note: In Armenia, presents are not given to children on Christmas, which has maintained it's spiritual and religious significance. Instead, they receive their gifts on January 1). The giving of presents and the displaying of a tree during the holiday season have many suggested beginnings, but perhaps the most likely comes from the Old Testament, where our forefather, Adam, received everything from God as a gift in the Garden of Eden. He was given life, mind and family. In the Garden of Eden there was the Tree of Life, of which Adam was supposed to partake. However he preferred the Tree of Knowledge, and through that decision, the Tree of Life became inaccessible. Beginning yet in those days, mankind has always dreamed of the Tree of Life, and the Christmas Tree (in the west) or the New Year Tree (in the east) has remained as a small reminder of the true Tree of Life in Paradise. The star affixed to the top of the tree can also be interpreted as a symbolic reminder of the Star of Bethlehem. As the Magi brought their gifts to the Infant Jesus, so do we Christians bring our gifts to decorate the Tree of Life, (which represents Christ).

Who is Santa Claus?

As to what pertains to St. Nicholas ("Santa Claus"): Nicholas was the bishop of the Christian Church in the Asia Minor city of Myra (now Demre, Turkey) in the fourth century. He was born in Lycia, and from childhood he was kind and friendly, and in accordance with the Gospel of St. Matthew (19:21), he sold all of his belongings and distributed the money he received as a result among the poor. St. Nicholas is considered to be the patron saint of children, who hears their prayers, and who intercedes on their behalf to the Almighty. He is beloved throughout the Christian East for his kindness and help, both during his life and afterward. He is called "Wonderworker" for the miracles which he performed by the grace of God. In the protestant west, which suppressed the invocation of saints, Saint Nicholas became popularly known as "Santa Claus".

Christ is Born and Revealed! 
Blessed is the Revelation of Christ.

Translated by: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian 
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin