ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH CELEBRATES ASSUMPTION DAY ON AUGUST 16

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
14.08.2009 13:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Virgin Assumption Day is a modified form of
pre-Christian holiday of Navasard," ethnographer Hranush Kharatyan
told today a news conference.

Christian world celebrates Assumption Day on August 15, but Armenian
Apostolic Church celebrates the holiday on the Sunday following
sacrifice and pilgrimage to the holy sites devoted to Virgin Mary.

"Dominating tradition in pre-Christian and Christian Armenia was
bloodless sacrifice, i.e. vine offering. Puritan society in that
period encouraged dances and merry making," Kharatyan added.

In pre-Christian period, Navasard celebration was dedicated to
motherhood and fertility Goddess Anahit who was praised for harvest. As
a result, Virgin Assumption Day inherited some of the traditions of
praising Anahit when people in pray-houses addressed praises Virgin
Mary, pronouncing tender epithets.