The Feast of the Birth and Baptism of Jesus Christ (Surp Dzinunt) was celebrated in the garden of Iskenderun Karasun Manuk Armenian Church, which was partially damaged in the devastating earthquake. Hatay Armenian Churches Responsible Religious Officer Avedis Tabaşyan directed the Holy Mass, which was held in the garden of the Church, where religious ceremonies were not allowed within the scope of security measures.
The “Feast of the Birth of Jesus Christ (Surp Dzununt) and Baptism”, celebrated by Armenian Orthodox Christians every year on January 6, was celebrated with a ceremony held in the garden of the Iskenderun Armenian Church. The services held in the gardens of the churches damaged after the earthquake, prayers accompanied by hymns and candles were lit, with the hope that 2024 would be a year of health, world peace and a year without earthquake.
Tabaşyan, who preached at the ceremony where candles were lit and prayers were said, stated that the year 2023 was very difficult for everyone due to the great earthquake and that many losses were experienced.
Tabaşyan noted that despite all the losses, we should thank the Lord as long as we breathe; “So much so that we experienced difficulties and were left in the cold many times. Maybe we even started looking for a stove to burn fuel. We have experienced the worst things on our best days, but if we are alive today, it means that the Lord has given us an opportunity to make others live,” he said.
He Existed and Lived by God’s Spirit
“The Nativity Festival we celebrate today is also good news given to humanity! Just as the miraculous birth of the Lord Jesus Christ took place when he descended from the sky to the earth and as we still celebrate it, humankind still hasn’t figured it out today! Because he came into existence by the spirit of God, he lived by the spirit of God, he did not oppose the spirit of God, and in the same way, he returned to the Lord.
God gave us a loving heart, and it is up to us to use it for good or to abuse it. May the Lord grant health and blessing to each of you and allow us to have a good year. “-May the Lord take away all these pandemics, earthquakes and evil from our country and grant good days to each of us,” he said.
At the end of the ritual, the baptism of Jesus Christ was performed by symbolically dipping the cross into water and removing it. Members of the community then took the blessed bread, salt and water, accompanied by hymns, and brought the blessings of the holiday to their homes. The holiday service ended with community members congratulating each other’s holiday.
(SAT-7 TÜRK / İlyas Edip TERBİYELİ-İskenderun)
