Vardavar to be celebrated July 31
The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord - Vardavar - on July 31.
Talking to A1+, priest Hovsep Alexanyan said the holiday is associated with the well-known event of the Christ's transfiguration, when he appeared to his three disciples on the Mount Tabor in his brightened appearance. They started to pray on the mount. Soon the apostles became tired and fell asleep. As they woke up they saw that Jesus has transfigured before them: he became radiant, his face had light upon it as bright as sunshine and his clothes became dazzling white as snow.
"The blinding light that came from Christ showed his purity and divinity," said the priest.
Vardavar is usually celebrated on last Sunday of July when nearly all the people drench each other with water. The tradition of spilling water on each other dates back from pagan times and is traditionally associated with Goddess Astghik, who was the goddess of water, beauty, love and fertility. The festivities associated with this religious observance of Astghik were named "Vartavar" because Armenians offered her roses as a celebration ("vart" means "rose" in Armenian), also releasing doves and sprinkling water on each other.
"Water is a symbol of purity. Jesus Christ was baptized in the waters of the Jordan River and we accept the tradition," said Hovsep Alexanyan.
