THE FEAST OF ST. GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR IN ANTELIAS
03/21/2010
St. Gregory the Illuminator, the founder of the Church, is the Patron Saint of the Armenian Church. His Feast, 20-21 March, is also a time of Pilgrimage to Antelias, where the relics of his right hand has been preserved over the centuries in a hand-shaped reliquary, and is exposed on that day. The Altar curtain, which remains closed during the 40 days of the Great Lent, is opened on those two days.
The Holy Liturgy on Saturday reminded the faithful of the sufferings and sacrifices of the great saint, and the faithful, in procession, followed the Relic around the church.
On Sunday, 21 March, Bishop Shahé Panossian celebrated the liturgy. As the church bells chimed, His Holiness Aram I, the bishops and the priests entered the church, walking behind the relic. Through this ritual, the faithful are reminded of the continuity of the church.
In his sermon, the celebrant bishop spoke of the life of the Saint and the way in which his legacy continues to revitalize the Church and the faith of its believers.
At the end of the Holy Liturgy, His Holiness, with the clergy and priests carrying all the relics of the church in their reliquaries, walked in procession within the walls of the Catholicosate, while the people kissed the relics. Later, all relics were placed in front of the Altar, giving the people the opportunity to pray and to pay their respects.
