The Rite of blessing of pomegranates held at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
03/01/2015
Yerevan: A new order of blessing of pomegranates by His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians was held at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin at the eve of the New Year 2015 .
The Pomegranate-blessing service was offered at all parishes of Armenian Orthodox Church as well.
In the Armenian tradition, the pomegranate is seen as the national symbol that reflects the meaning of life, prosperity and abundance. In Christian symbolism, pomegranate is conceived as the symbol of the blood shed by Jesus Christ, symbolizing His Glorious Resurrection and diversity of His grace.
Church fathers has compared pomegranate to the One Orthodox Church ( Solid Peel) that holds diverse church members (granules) where all are united in the same One True Holy Catholic Apostolic Church of Christ.
For this reason, pomegranate symbolization was widely used in the Armenian ecclesiastical architecture, and miniature art.
