Local parishes across the Eastern Diocese marked the start of the Armenian Church’s season of the Holy Cross on September 12, with sacred and popular celebrations of the Feast of the Exaltation. For many communities, Exaltation Day was the first major occasion for people to gather together since the outbreak of the pandemic. What follows is a sampling of parish activities from across the Diocese:
Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel paid a special visit to the historic Holy Cross Church of Union City, NJ, where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy assisted by parish pastor Fr. Vazken Karayan. Following the service, the parish warmly welcomed Bishop Daniel with a special reception, where parishioners enjoyed celebrating the church’s name day in the presence of their Primate, and sharing their generous hospitality with him. Click here to view a gallery of photos.
St. Sarkis Church of Dallas, TX, marked the Feast of the Exaltation with an outdoor picnic where students of the parish’s St. Sarkis School registered for the upcoming academic year. Earlier, in the church sanctuary, pastor Fr. Ghevond Ajamian celebrated badarak and encouraged worshippers to contribute to the Diocese’s special collection for the victims of disaster in Haiti and Lebanon. Click here to view photos.
St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church in Wynnewood, PA, began the day with badarak led by pastor Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian. Then parishioners joined neighbors and friends on the church’s extensive property for the annual fall picnic, where visitors enjoyed Armenian delicacies, live music, children’s activities, and the chance to reunite with one another. Find videos of the day on the parish Facebook page. Click here to view photos.
In Boca Raton, FL, St. David Church celebrated Exaltation Day with a special service led by pastor Fr. Sevak Gabrielyan, where he blessed a new altar curtain, robes for altar servers and the choir (recently made in Armenia), and a new chalice and dove-shaped baptismal vessel. These were donated by Dr. Homer and Maria Grigorian, Costantin and Peggy Antonescu, Mary Torosian and the Torosian Family. The day also marked the start of classes at the parish’s Alex and Marie Manoogian Sunday School. Click here to view photos.
At St. James Church in Watertown, MA (pictured above), pastor Fr. Arakel Aljalian was joined by senior priests Fr. Krikor Maksoudian and Fr. Tateos Abdalian for a splendid outdoor blessing ceremony. As in other locales, to conclude the service parishioners received bunches of basil—the “royal herb” known to Armenians as rehan—in the traditional manner associated with Exaltation Day. Click here to view photos.