ANTELIAS: Commemoration of the Parable of the Ten Maidens in Antelia

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

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HOLY WEEK VESPERS REMEMBERING THE PARABLE OF TEN BRIDESMAIDS

On Tuesday 30 March 2010, Vespers service was devoted to the Parable of Ten
Bridesmaids (Mathew 25:1-13). During the service, while the celebrant read
the Gospel, ten young girls holding lit candles stood in front of the Altar.
After the reading, the girls read the papers given to them as they
approached the Alter. Those bridesmaids who had papers written ‘foolish’
extinguished their candles.

At the end of the Vespers, the Celebrant priest, the ‘Ten Bridesmaids’ and
the faithful, walked in procession to meet His Holiness Aram I. Before
giving his blessings, His Holiness Aram I reminded everyone of the
importance of the Parable. He said: "The parable tells us to be always ready
to receive the Lord" Readiness here implies our responsibility in living our
Christian life. However, he said, the Parable also leaves us with another
thought: Should we be ready as individuals? The parable urges us to be in
dialogue and in solidarity with those who are not yet ready by helping them.
He then expressed his joy in seeing the people participating in the rituals
of the Armenian Church with devotion. As the people greeted His Holiness
they also received symbolic gifts.

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View the photos here:
tos/Photos463.htm
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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. Its jurisdiction extends over the Armenian
Communities in the Middle East, Europe and North and South America. The
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon. /// Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia – Communication and
Information Department.
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director.

http://www.ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org/
http://www.youtube.com/user/HolySeeOfCilicia
http://www.ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org/v04/doc/Pho