Center "Entanik". The festival of Tearnandaraj in the community of Marmachen

"And call me a child, a prophet of the Highest: for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to make known the salvation of his people, for the remission of their sins.

Every year on February 14, after 40 days from the birth of Jesus Christ and the feast of the Appearance of God, the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church solemnly celebrates the feast of the Sacrifice of the forty-day-old child Jesus in the Temple - Tearnandaraj.

The children's creative center "Entanik" of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, faithful to the church ritual and folk tradition of the holiday, celebrated "Trndez" together with the residents of the Marmachen community of the Shirak region in the courtyard of the St. Hovhannes church. The festive atmosphere, good mood and desire to share the symbolism of the holiday united the believers.

After the Lord's Prayer, Priest Ter Paren Petrossian addressed his blessing-filled word to the participants of the event, and then presented in detail the Christian symbolism of Tearnendaraj and the importance of this Lord's holiday in the life of Christians. Then, the pupils of the dance studio of the children's creative center "Entanik" performed ritual songs and ethnographic dances.

According to the folk tradition, the main ritual was performed - the national and spiritual celebration around the fire, gathering the pupils of the center and the audience. Around the fire, the children served the main dishes of the holiday on a platter: raisins, millet, nuts, roasted peas.

The pupils participating in the event fully conveyed to the audience the bright symbolism of Tearnendaraj.

A. Mkrtchian