HEATHEN WEDDING IN GARNI

A1+
09 January, 2008

"I shall profess heathenism for the rest of my life.

It doesn’t contradict my nationality. I associate heathenism with
patriotism," 23-year-old Ellen told A1+. Ellen got married last
year. The heathen wedding took place in the pagan temple of Garni
devoted to Mihr-the God of the Sun in Armenian mythology.

The spouses had decided to marry on September 22 as it is the day
of autumnal equinox. Besides, the magnetic field is very strong on
that day. Unfortunately, they were unable to perform a wedding on
September 22.

Nevertheless, the wedding ceremony took place at 1.00 p.m. on Sunday
as they had arranged beforehand.

The couple attached great importance to the date as Sunday is the
day of the Sun, and positive charged accumulate on that day.

Early in the morning the fiance, Karen, went to Ellen’s house with
his relatives. There was Armenian traditional cognac, sweets, gata
and pomegranate in the wedding baskets.

At Ellen’s request, they didn’t put "bananas, pine-apples and other
citric plants."

"I put on my wedding gown. They twirled the bridal veil for seven
times and my brother helped me put on the shoes. We performed the
traditional rituals.

The wedding did not greatly differ from Armenian weddings.

"I didn’t wear a white wedding-dress though Karen’s mother didn’t like
the idea. I wore a national costume, Armenian taraz. I think the idea
of wearing white dresses is imitated. It is taken from Europe and I
don’t endorse it," Ellen said.

Ellen was dressed in purple. Karen’s clothes were also original. A
fylfot was embroidered on the back of his shirt. It symbolizes the
towers of Ani.

The wedding car was decorated with red, blue and purple ribbons which
waved from the wind.

The wedding party was received by five priests in Garni. They went up
to the couple and gave them advice. The guests danced under kochari
(Armenian national circular dance). Meanwhile one of the priests raised
his right hand, greeted the party and passed to the main ceremony. A
fire was burning in the fane.

The couple drank wine. Each guest took a piece of wood and stoked
the fire by the priest’s order.

"When the fire was dousing they made a sacrifice for gods to
endorse our wedding. As I am against animal slaughter they only
cut a lamb’s ear. Then they made a sign on our foreheads with the
blood." The ceremony was followed by the traditional kochari and the
guests made a round dance chaining the couple. All the presentees,
our relatives, guests, priests and tourists danced to the music of
kochari," Ellen said.