Commemoration Day of the Forty Saint Martyrs in the Armenian Diocese in Georgia

On March 14, 2015 the Divine Liturgy was held in memory of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste in Saint Etchmiadzin church, located in Avlabari, Tbilisi.

The priest, who conducted the Divine Liturgy, recalled the Holy Forty, who came from different cities of the Kingdom of Greater Armenia and served near the city of Sebaste.

They remained faithful to Christianity and accepted martyrdom. Their relicts are kept in Sebaste, where a church consisting of forty domes dedicated to the Holy Forty later was built.

A table, decorated with 40 candles during the Liturgy, was symbolizing the faithfulness of the witnesses to Christianity and their “crown” of martyrdom. One candle of a martyr, who could not bear suffering, was left without a flower, symbolizing his loss of earthly and heavenly life.

The priest explained the sacrament of the day and encouraged everyone to follow the example of the Holy Forty; to remain faithful to Christianity despite all the hardships of life and to resist temptations in order to deserve the Kingdome of Heaven.

At the end of the service the fathers traditionally consecrated vegetable oil, which the parish took home.

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