BIG WEDDING
Bella Lalayan
De Facto
2008-10-17 15:56:00
STEPANAKERT, 17.10.08. DE FACTO. Construction works that did not cease
until deep night in Stepanakert various regions could arouse the city
guests’ astonishment, but not that of the local inhabitants. Artsakh’s
capital city was getting ready for a big wedding.
"The Lovers’ Lane", a stepped road leading from the Revival Square to
the Stadium after St. Shahumian, has been completely reconstructed, the
Stadium has been repaired, works on the improvement of the territories
around Surb Ghazanchetsots and Gandzasar churches have been carried
out. At mid-day sharp the cars’ column with 550 pairs of newly-weds
set off from the Stepanakert Revival Square to Shoushi. To guarantee
the newly-weds’ festive mood a concert was initiated in the yard of
Surb Ghazanchetsots Church.
All 550 young pairs lit candles at the Church, after which Archbishop
Pargev Martirosian, spiritual leader of Artsakh Eparchy, held a
wedding ceremony.
The Most Holy admonished, prayed and blessed the newly-weds. "Give
them children, the Most High, as You will wish. Make sweet every day of
their life with your generous mercy, for them to enjoy their life, live
till deep oldness and be honored with kingdom of heaven and everlasting
crown", Archbishop Pargev Martirosian wished in his blessing.
"It is the brightest day of my life. I am very gl ad that I participate
in the wedding. So many pairs, so many happy snow-white garments,
unforgettable moments for us. I wish all the pairs strong family,
love and happiness, as well as a lot of children", said 23-year-old
Marine Hovsepian from Hadrut region.
Wedding of 150 more pairs was held the same time at the Gandzasar
monastery, the village of Vanq.
At 4 p. pm., making an oath before God and those present, the pairs
returned from Shoushi to Stepanakert. The pairs, who had got married
at the Gandzasar Church, also arrived in Stepanakert by that time.
At 5:30 p.m., after having a short rest and dinner at the solemn
ceremony salons, the newly-married gathered together.
>From here 700 snow-white fairies with their husbands went down to the
city stadium, in the rain of flowers. The same time the NKR leadership
headed by President Bako Sahakian and guests from abroad also visited
the stadium.
They wished all 700 newly-weds happiness, mutual love and respect,
healthy and prosperous family.
The wedding’s witnesses have become, alongside with those who assumed
the responsibilities of godfathers, seven Armenian philanthropists,
who arrived from Russia. The main godfather and sponsor has become,
as it has already been reported, a renowned philanthropist, devoted
patriot of his native land Levon Hayrapetian.
Well, we can hope that the aim for which he has undertaken the
wonderful measure – "demographi c outburst" in Artsakh – will become
a reality.
It should be mentioned that such wedding festivities have never been
held in the world. The wedding that was held in Nagorno-Karabakh on
October 16, 2008, can be considered the biggest in the world, worthy
to be included in the Guinness book. 700 nuptials in a day is really
a "Big wedding" for Artsakh, the number of population of which makes
150, 000.
From: Baghdasarian