Today Armenian Church celebrates Feast of Palm Sunday

28.03.2010 15:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ One week before the Feast of the Glorious
Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Armenian Church celebrates
the Feast of Palm Sunday, celebrating the Triumphant Entry of Christ
into Jerusalem.

Jesus comes into Jerusalem riding atop a donkey and the people gather
to meet Him with reverence, thus fulfilling the words of the prophet
from the Old Testament.

The Gospel of St. Matthew, in relating the story, refers to the
prophecy, `ll this was done, that it might be fulfilled, that which
was spoken by the prophet, saying `ell the daughter of Zion, Behold,
your king is coming to you! He is humble and sitting on an ass, and a
colt, the foal of an ass.'(Mt 21:4-5).

On His arrival, a large crowd of people gathers to greet Him, and
spread their cloaks on the road before Him, while others cut branches
from palm trees and place them on the path. The crowd exclaims:
`osanna! Blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the Name of the
Lord'(Jn 12:13).

On Palm Sunday, churches are decorated with branches from willow trees
and palm trees. Following a solemn morning service, the blessed
branches are distributed to the faithful. This passage from the
Gospels reminds each of us about the Coming of Christ, and teaches us
to live in a manner that can make us worthy to stand before the Lord
and exclaim: `osanna (Praise God)! Blessed is He who comes in the name
of the Lord!’