PRESS RELEASE
PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Sylvie Keshishian, Director of Public Relations
Tel: (212) 686.0710 ext.160 Fax: (212) 689.1934
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
December 21, 2007
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ARCHISHOP KHAJAG BARSAMIAN, PRIMATE OF THE DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH OF
AMERICA (EASTERN): MESSAGE TO THE FAITHFUL OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH
In this joyous time of year, as we celebrate the wondrous birth of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ, we look to our Creator with thanksgiving for all
His blessings. We ask the Lord to watch over our loved ones, and we depend
on His guidance in our lives.
In the Armenian tradition, the Order of Home Blessing is a formal way to do
so.
For centuries, our ancestors would eagerly await this opportunity for the
priest to visit their homes particularly every Christmas and Easter, because
the Home Blessing is the family’s prayer for God’s powerful Right Hand to
guide and shelter them at all times. Our forefathers placed such
significance in this tradition because inviting the priest into the home
signified the family inviting the presence of Christ to reside in that home
at all times.
During the ‘Order of Home Blessing,’ each member of the household gathers
around the priest as he burns incense and blesses bread, salt, and water,
the three essential life-giving elements of a home provided to us by the
Lord. The priest then places a wafer (nushkhar) next to them, signifying
Christ’s presence in the home. He then recites the Gospel and blesses each
member of the family.
As part of our ‘Church and Home’ theme, we continue last year’s effort to
bring the presence of the Lord into the heart of each Armenian family
through the beautiful ceremony of Home Blessings. We urge you to call your
Pastor and request a Home Blessing. What better way to experience the
presence of Christ in our daily lives, than to take the time to look to Him
for guidance and protection in our own homes? A Home Blessing is a
wonderful opportunity to experience the rituals of our Armenian Church
firsthand, and for your Pastor to get to know you and your family as well.
May the blessings of the Lord be upon you and dwell in each of your homes,
and may the peace of the Christmas season be with you all both now and
throughout the year.
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