Your trusted source

The Armenian Church calls the final week of Christ's life on earth Great Week or Holy Week (Avag Shabat). During this time, we share in His teachings, His suffering, His death, and His resurrection.

March 25: Holy Monday: Commemoration of the Creation, also the day of the cursed fig tree and cleaning of the Temple.

March 26: Holy Tuesday: Commemoration of the five foolish and the five wise virgins, as well as Christ’s explanation to the Jews’ inquiries and reprimand of the Pharisees. The same day in the Temple of Jerusalem the heavenly voice was heard, commemoration of foretelling of the Temple’s destruction, Christ’s final leaving of the Temple. On the Holy Tuesday the Church commemorates the Parable of the Ten Virgins” (Mt 25:1-13) and explanation of the last Judgment, as well as the Flood and the repeated origin of the mankind.

March 27: Holy Wednesday: Commemoration of the betrayal of the Lord. Christ’s anointment and Judah’s Betrayal are commemorated. That day a woman in Bethany came in with an alabaster jar filled with valuable perfume. She opened the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus’ head thus symbolizing His upcoming death. Judah’s decision to betray Jesus followed anointment.

March 28: Holy Thursday: Holy Thursday is dedicated to the Last Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ and symbolizes the establishment of the Sacrament of Communion. Divine Liturgy is celebrated at noon. Following the Evening Service the Service of the Washing of the Feet is conducted. Christ, displaying true humility and humbleness, washed the feet of his disciples after the last Supper (Jn 13:1-16). On the Holy Thursday a special service of eclipse is performed during which 12 candles are lighted on the altar and one big candle is placed in the middle. Each time following the biblical reading one of the candles is put off, in the end only the candle placed in the center remains. That last candle symbolizes Christ who remained alone. During the morning service a service of absolution of sins of those who repent is performed. A solemn Divine Liturgy is performed at 11:00. Service of the Washing of the Feet is performed at 16:30. During the service blessing of the oil is performed. The Service of eclipse is performed at 19:00.

March 29: Good Friday: Commemoration of Christ’s tortures, Crucifixion, Death and Burial. Morning service is performed, passages are read from the Gospels reflecting the last hours of Christ’s earthly life - betrayal, arrest, the denial of Peter, taking Him to Pontius Pilate, sentence to death, His torments and insults, being crucified on Golgotha, eclipse of sun, Christ’ death and burial are commemorated. On the Good Friday a Divine Liturgy is not celebrated as Christ was martyred on the cross. The evening service symbolizes Jesus Christ’s Burial. The Service of the Crucifixion is conducted at 11:00. Burial service and solemn procession is conducted at 17:00.

March 30: Holy Saturday: destruction of hell is commemorated, a Candlelight Divine Liturgy is celebrated. After His death Christ descended to the hell and destroyed it thus granting salvation to souls of the righteous. In the evening a Candlelight Divine Liturgy is celebrated. During the Candlelight Divine Liturgy the good tiding of the glorious resurrection of the Savior is proclaimed: “Christ is Risen from the dead; Blessed be the Resurrection of Christ!” The period of the Great Lent is thus concluded. Beginning of Candlelight Divine Liturgy: at 18:00.

March 31: Sunday: Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Easter). Festive Divine Liturgy is celebrated. Beginning of the Liturgy: at 11:00.