Happy Christmas and Theophany

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Happy Christmas to all Armenians and happy Theophany for all Rums on January 6.

The Armenian Church celebrates Christmas;  the birth (Sourp Dznount) of Jesus Christ on January 6.

Շնորհաւոր Սուրբ Ծնունդ / Mutlu yıllar

Sourp Dznount (the holy birth and theophany) feast celebrated on January 6 every year according to the Armenian Church calendar, will be welcomed this year with religious ceremonies held in Armenian churches.  The Christmas celebrations will begin with the sunset as of approximately 5 p.m. The great ceremony will be held in churches in the morning of January 6.

In the feast where the birth of Jesus Christ is commemorated, the “Çırorhnek” ceremony is held in which water is blessed representing the birth of Christ in Jordan River.

χρόνια πολλά / Mutlu yıllar

Rums of İstanbul celebrate the Theophany, also known as Ta Fota feast on January 6 where they commemorate the baptism of Jesus Christ. A reverend throws a wooden cross in the water symbolizing the blessing of water. The young jump into the water and compete against each other to get the cross out of the water. The one who finds the cross in the water and takes it out is rewarded with a golden chain and a cross.

This ceremony held for centuries on coasts of Bosporus, has been celebrated in the recent years in front of the Aya Yorgi Church in Çengelköy and Aya Stefanos Church in Yeşilköy. (NV/DG)