Olive Branch (Palm Sunday) Feast is celebrated in all Armenian Catholic Churches. On Sunday, April 10, a Holy Mass was held in Taksim Surp Hovhan Vosgeperan Armenian Catholic Church, under the presidency of the Most Reverend Archbishop Levon Zekiyan, for the Palm Sunday, which Armenian Catholics call Dzaghgazart (Zaghazart).
On the same day and at the same time, feast rites were held at Kadıköy Surp Levon Armenian Catholic Church and Samatya Anarat Hığutyun Churches.
In the feast, which is also called Palm Sunday and Olive Branch Feast, together with the Sacred Rite, the consecration of the olive branches and the Tapor Tırınpatsek (Opening the door of the Church) ceremonies were also held.
For the feast of Jesus Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, the last Sunday before Easter, the feast of the Resurrection; Mass held in Taksim was accompanied by; Vartan Kazancıyan, the head priest of the Surp Hovhan Vosgeperan Church, Kahana Der Haygaram Çekiç, Chief Deacon Der Hagop Minasyan, Gigasargavak Jan Acemoğlu and readers. After two years of pandemic measures, there was an intense participation in the public service. During the service, the Surp Hovhan Vosgeperan Choir sang chants under the direction of Conductor Zaven Agay.
In the Bible, in Zechariah, (9/14) it was written that the Messiah would one day enter the gates of Jerusalem on a donkey, and the people would welcome him with great enthusiasm:
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
