Father Zakaria has shared a message addressing common misconceptions related to Armenian Church traditions.
According to his explanation, on January 6 the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Christ. However, some people mistakenly refer to this day as “Small Easter.”
Father Zakaria emphasizes that Easter cannot be described as “big” or “small.” Easter is the Feast of the Resurrection of Christ, which this year will be observed on April 5. The Feast of the Nativity, he explains, has its own distinct meaning and significance within the Christian calendar.
He also notes that the Feast of the Nativity is meant for everyone, regardless of whether they have deceased loved ones or not. There is no concept of “old” or “new” deceased individuals in this context.
According to Armenian Church tradition, visits to cemeteries should take place on Merelots (the Day of Remembrance), which follows the Nativity feast and is observed on January 7.
The message encourages greater awareness and accuracy in observing church traditions and terminology, helping preserve the spiritual meaning of these important religious days.
