Within the framework of “The Church and the Law” series of interviews, Iravaban.net talked with the Priest Ter Yeghishe, the spiritual pastor of St. Gevorg Church of Mughni of Aragatsotn Diocese about the Feast of Khachverats (Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross), the last of the five feasts of the Armenian Church
– What holiday is Khachverats? Why is it considered the most important of the holidays dedicated to the Cross?
– The Armenian Apostolic Church has four holidays dedicated to the cross. The biggest is Khachverats – the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. When the Persian king Khosrow attacked the city of Jerusalem as an insult to the Christians, he captured St. Cross, thinking to humble the Christians, and took it to Persia. Already in 329-30, Emperor Heraclius gathered a large army, Armenian princes also participated and a great war took place, Emperor Heraclius won and St. Cross was liberated from the Persians. And the Christians raised up with great pomp and St. Cross also passed through the Armenian world and reached Constantinople.
– Kachverats is a holiday, not so long ago it was celebrated in everyone’s families, but nowadays it has taken on a sad tone, it is celebrated especially in those families where a person died that year, why has the meaning of the holiday been changed and please tell me why it is actually considered joy?
– As we celebrate Easter and Christmas, we visit graves again, this same thing is in the case of Khachveratsi it is a holiday of joy. It is a holiday that has nothing to do with the deceased, because it glorifies the Cross itself. The next day we go to the graves. We have always celebrated the Feast the Exaltation of the Holy Cross with joy and glorified it. There is a special procession of the Cross, which is for raising and glorifying the Cross. Gospels are read, the Cross is taken out. The Cross is the sign of victory. Jesus conquered the world through the Cross.
– How does the church celebrate that holiday?
-Morning service, Holy liturgy, all hymns are dedicated to the glorification of the Cross. It was celebrated with great pomp before, and it is celebrated today as well. Priests, scribes come out and rotate the Cross, Gospels are read. All this is done to glorify the Cross. The Cross is decorated with basil, because when Queen St. Helena discovered the Cross, it was among basil and the church sees the mystery of basil.
– There are specific foods on the holiday, roasted lamb or veal meat, pilaf with beech, what advice do these have?
– It came from tradition and it continues like that, let it continue. The first to enter the house should be congratulate the holiday of the St. Cross. They say: Happy Holy Cross.
– Where does the popular name of the holiday, Serbkhech, come from? What is its meaning?
“Serbkhech – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross” is used in several ways, but everyone understands that it is about the same holiday.
– In the past, even some 10-15 years before, the holiday had wider popularity, now it seems that it is not so popular to celebrate, as for example people celebrate Easter, why is this church holiday less popular?
– People celebrate this holiday, but for some reason they think that they should only go to the houses of the recently deceased, that’s how it is in the villages. But there are also many villages where they do not go to church on Sunday, but go to church on Monday. Merelots (Days of the Dead: a solemn tradition that on the day following the 5 major feast days of the Armenian Church, a day is observed in memory of those who have passed away, and are asleep in Jesus Christ) is the day after the holiday, Monday. Graves should be visited on that day.
– What is justice?
– Justice is all wisdom. The book of Solomon’s Proverbs, to be read, says that neither treasure nor gold will be what justice or wisdom is, because justice is born from wisdom.
– What is morality?
– The right way of life, according to the commandments of God.
– Where does faith come from, is it given by God or does a person achieve it on his own?
– Faith is both given by God and reached by man, because Jesus says: faith saved you, that is, man believed and approached.
Details in the video.
