“HE IS RISEN!” These three words—so infinitely powerful and fundamental to our Armenian Christian faith since its birth during the Apostolic age—declare Christ’s victory over death, and assure our salvation through His crucifixion and Resurrection.
Their meaning was clearly felt by all who bore witness to Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel Findikyan celebrating Easter Sunday badarak at New York City’s St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, on April 17, 2022. Those worshipping during the badarak were not (and are never) spectators, but rather participants in this most intimate encounter we can have with God in this lifetime.
With city pandemic restrictions receding, this year the cathedral welcomed the largest crowd of worshippers in two years. The clergy and altar servers assisting Bishop Daniel throughout the liturgy were likewise at full strength. Among them were Cathedral Vicar Fr. Davit Karamyan and Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian, Sacred Music Instructor of the Eastern Diocese.
All of these developments were causes for gratitude among the faithful attending in person, as well as the large viewership watching the Easter service as it was broadcast live from St. Vartan Cathedral over the Internet.
As the procession moved throughout the sanctuary, Bishop Daniel audibly bestowed blessings among the faithful as they bowed their heads in reverence and kissed the cross. The soaring voices of the St. Vartan Cathedral Choir, conducted by Maestro Khoren Mekanejian with accompaniment by organist Florence Avakian, underscored the sanctity of the service.
Two Key Questions
Upon Bishop Daniel’s return to the altar, the reading of the Scriptures and recitation of the Nicene Creed served as a testament to the fact that all ancient Apostolic Christian churches are united by the same foundation built upon the teachings and the Word of Jesus Christ.
Following the blessing and distribution of the Holy Eucharist, Bishop Daniel joyously greeted the entire congregation from the altar with the Easter greeting, “Krisdos haryav ee merelotz!” (Christ is risen from the dead!), to which they enthusiastically responded, “Orhnyal eh harootiunun Krisdosee!” (Blessed is the resurrection of Christ!).
He then began his sermon by posing what he described as the only two key questions of human life found in the Gospel of John dating back to the first Easter: “Why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?”
These questions, given by two angels standing on the empty tomb of Jesus and then by Jesus himself, were asked of Mary Magdalene who, early in the morning, went alone to the tomb where she had seen the lifeless body of Christ buried the night before and sealed with a massive boulder. Terrified upon discovering that the boulder had been removed leaving the tomb open, Mary hurriedly departed to alert Peter and John, who returned to the tomb with her and stepped inside to see that Christ was not there.
Although the two disciples then fled, Mary remained and wept, only to eventually realize that Christ appeared before her and spoke to her.
“It is imperative for each of us, when we have those tears, to look inside and ask ourselves ‘Why am I weeping? Who is it that I’m looking for?” Bishop Daniel said. “Let us do as Mary did when she heard Christ calling her name, and allow Him to cultivate your life and bring joy and beauty to the world that can never be undone.”
A Season of Prayer
The Easter Sunday service marked two of the Armenian Church’s days of note: the culmination of Holy Week, the sacred commemoration of the events leading to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as the beginning of Eastertide, the 50-day period known as Heenoonk in Armenian, that lasts from Easter to Pentecost. The latter is dedicated to the mystery of our Resurrected Savior and His encounters with His followers. Prayers related to this observance can be found on Vemkar.us, the website of the Eastern Diocese ministries program.
Each year, the viewing audience for St. Vartan Cathedral’s Easter Sunday liturgy includes thousands of people from across the Diocese and around the world, sharing in the service as it is broadcast over the Internet. The small, dedicated production team included Yervant Keshishian, who directed the program, and host and narrator Christopher Zakian. Diran Jebejian photographed the Easter Sunday service.
This Easter, a special collection was taken in all churches of the Eastern Diocese to aid our Armenian brothers and sisters in need in Ukraine. All funds collected will go to the Armenian Church Diocese of Ukraine, with distribution overseen by Bishop Marcos Hovhannisyan, Primate of the Ukrainian Diocese.
Click the links to learn more about the Easter collection, and to make an online contribution.
CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINKS TO:
- VIEW a gallery of photos from the Easter liturgy.
- WATCH the recorded service in its entirety.
- WATCH in English: Bishop Daniel’s Easter sermon.
- WATCH in Armenian: Bishop Daniel’s Easter sermon.
By Stephan S. Nigohosian
Above: Bishop Daniel leads the procession at New York’s St. Vartan Cathedral on Easter Sunday. (Photo: Diran Jebejian/Jebejian Images)