With the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, H.E. Arch. Kegham Katcherian, Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy of Greece, celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the Feast of Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias.
The Feast of Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ is one of the five major feasts (Daghavar) of the Armenian Church, and it holds a special place in the hearts of Armenians. After celebrating the feast with a solemn Divine Liturgy, a centuries-old pre-Christian festival called Vartavar, integrated with the Transfiguration by St. Gregory the Illuminator, is held outside of all churches and wherever Armenians can meet, where participants release doves and engage in water games.
During the Divine Liturgy, Arch. Kegham delivered the sermon narrating the story of the transfiguration and underlining the key messages. The archbishop quoted Matthew 17:4 “Lord, it is good for us to be here” to reflect upon the timelessness of the affirmation and the longing that moves us to want to remain in the presence of Christ, especially in a world that is often lost in its direction.
