February 14, 2013 the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the Feast of the Lord’s Presentation to the Temple. Tyarendaraj, as it is known in Armenian, symbolizes the presentation of the 40 day-old Christ Child to the Temple in Jerusalem. Like many other church celebrations, this one is also a very popular and beautiful feast day as it symbolizes welcoming and personally coming forward to meet baby Jesus.
This is the 9th year that this feast has been celebrated, with great enthusiasm, at the initiative of the Pastor of the Holy Cross Church of Laval Rev. Fr. Komitas Mirzakhanyan. On Wednesday, February 13th the faithful had filled the Holy Cross church to capacity. The Pastor led the evening vesper and ‘Nakhatonak’ service and assisted by the deacons and acolytes of the Church. The evening Service was followed by the ceremony of blessing of the newlyweds and engaged couples.
It was very inspiring to witness the participation of young families and children in the ceremony. Led by the hymn of “Ourakh Ler” Rev. Fr. Komitas, ushered recently engaged or married couples to the altar of the Church, to receive the blessings.
Among the newlyweds and the newly engaged couples were Sarkis and Gayane Mansourian, Natalie and Pierre Menendian, Tony and Karine Alkhayat, Vartan and Swati Boyadjian, Mike and Talin Bjakedjian, Reymond and Magali Iskenderian and Talar Meserkhanian and Sari Farra.
Following the evening service, the procession of the faithful proceeded to the front yard of the church where the traditional Tyarnendaraj Fire was lit. The ceremony of Antasdan (blessing of the four corners of the world) was then conducted. Following the Andastan service all the faithful present sang hymns and traditional songs.
The congregation was invited back to the Church, for a reception hosted by the Ladies’ Guild, to enjoy sweets and roasted pastries characteristic of the Feast of Tyarnendaraj. The faithful left with a sense of spiritual fulfillment, taking with them the blessings of Tyarnendaraj’s lit candles, to carry the warmth and Light and the Wisdom of Christ to their families.
