On February 14, everyone was in a festive mood at the Armenian National Home of Sofia. While a festive Sunday liturgy was being performed at the local St. Mary Church, the children and youth of Sofia were rehearsing for their performances, reports Gohar Khnkanosyan to Hayern Aysor.

The Stepanos Hovakimyan Armenian Society of Schools has been celebrating the Armenian Tyarndarach holiday in the Armenian community of Bulgaria since 2002, and the main participants are the students of Gohar Khnkanosyan. Over the years, the holiday became a beloved and traditional holiday for the Armenian community of Sofia. This year, it coincided with a non-working day and was celebrated with grand splendor with the participation of the local church council, Homenetmen, the AGBU and others.

According to the procedure, the fire was lit in the churchyard with a candle taken from the altar. Leader of the diocese, Father, Archimandrite Isahak Poghosyan expressed his greetings to the gathered and blessed the newlyweds. While the fire burned down, Homenetmen scouts recited poems, and the children received the traditional roasted grains of wheat from Gohar Khnkanosyan.

The attendees became more excited when they watched the performance by the AGBU “Hye Ler” student dance group, which was joined by the “Nayiri” youth independent dance group. Together they performed the Armenian “Tamzara” round-dance. The attendees joined Emma Shahinyan’s “Nayiri” Dance Ensemble and performed the “Etchmiadzin” and “Mayroke” round-dances.

Let us add that the Armenian Tyarndarach holiday was also celebrated in Plovdiv, Ruse and other Bulgarian cities.

Photos by author