Meaning of the Feast & Application for Today
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak. Unique to the Armenian Church, this feast celebrates the burial, in the 3rd century, of an authentic relic of the cross by the founding saint of the Armenian Church, Hripsime. She buried the relic to protect it from the heathen soldiers pursuing her.
Centuries later, a monk by the name of Todik had a vision of a radiant cross over Mount Varak, which led him to discover the buried relic. After verifying Todik’s discovery , Catholicos Nersess (the Builder) established the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak and wrote the hymn, “By the Sign of Your All-Powerful Holy Cross,” (Nshanav Amenahaght Khatchit). Mount Varak is located in the southeastern region of Van in historic Armenia. There, in honor of the Cross, the monastery of Saint Nishan was built on the site where St. Hripsime had hidden it.
Armenians consider themselves a khachagir (cross-bearing) nation. Over the centuries, Armenians have borne Christ’s cross with faith, hope and love, seeing it as the symbol of salvation and victory over death. It appears on the domes and walls of our churches, on our altars, in our homes—even erupting out of the Armenian landscape as stone khachkars (cross stones). Imagine the impact this sign must have had on the minds of our ancestors. Everywhere they turned, the sign of the cross confronted them, a reminder of the sacrifice and glory which is the way of Christ, the way of life.
Sunday School Bulletin Prepared by Children & Family Ministries
Selected Bible Reading
May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen. (Galatians 6:14-18)