The Birth of Jesus Christ and the Baptism Day (Surp Dzınunt), celebrated on January 6 at the Iskenderun Karasun Manuk Armenian Church, was celebrated on Wednesday evening, January 5, under the shadow of Covid 19, with a ceremony led by Avedis Tabasian, the Religious Officer in Charge of the Anatolian and Hatay Armenian Churches.
During the feast, Avedis Tabashyan was accompanied by the Catholic Churches Anatolian Apostle Vicar Paolo Bizetti and the Iskenderun Catholic Church Father Dariusz Dogondke.
“The Nativity Day was the greatest good news given to humanity”
Father Tabashyan, who talked about the meaning of the holiday in his sermon at the ceremony where candles are lit and prayers are made, said; “Thank God we were able to come together after a long time. We can’t hug each other with enthusiasm as we want. We want the Lord to accept our prayers and bring us back to our old days. All we want is to get rid of this disease and regain our health.
Life tells us that sometimes in these darkness, there is no God and you can live without needing anything. But this word is not from God, but from the devil. Because the devil came to earth to corrupt the works of God. But the scripture tells us that the Love of God washes away all darkness. For God is light, and those who approach him will never walk in darkness.
This holiday, which we celebrate on January 5 and 6, is the feast of light dominating the earth. Happy holidays to you all. May the Lord give his light to your hearts. God’s love lifts man up to heaven,” he said.
Tabashyan also celebrated the Christmas Day of the congregation by reading the message of Patriarch Sahak II’s “Feast of Nature and Appearance”.
“Santa Claus Surprise for Kids”
At the end of the liturgy, the baptism of Jesus Christ was accomplished by immersing the cross in water representatively. While Arden Karadaş, one of the children of the church, held the representative cross, the members of the congregation carried the blessings of the feast to their homes by taking bread, salt and water, which were blessed with hymns.
The Christmas Mass and Baptism Feast continued with Santa Claus, who the children were looking forward to, ringing the bell and reflecting the Christmas spirit. The ceremony ended with Umut Apak, one of the church youth, wearing a Santa Claus outfit and giving gifts to the children.
