A Foot-Washing ceremony was held at the Holy Glorification Church in Moscow on Apr. 17. The ceremony symbolizes Christ’s humbleness to his apostles after the Last Supper when “Jesus poured the water in his rib, kneeled in front of His Apostles and washed their feet, wiping with a towel”.

Twelve students of the “Hayordats Tun” Armenian School of Moscow between the ages of 6 and 11 had the honor of climbing to the altar and participating in the symbolic ceremony. After the Foot-Washing ceremony, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Russia and Nor Nakhichevan, Archbishop Yezras Nersisyan cited the words of Jesus from the Bible: “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.”

All the attendees were impressed with the ceremony. The parents of the students of “Hayordats Tun” Armenian School said it was an honor for them and their children to participate in the Foot-Washing ceremony.

Gorik’s mother, Mariam Kirakosyan presented the symbol of the day to his son and assured him that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and that not everyone has that opportunity, and little Gor, knowing the symbol of the day, had been waiting for the ceremony impatiently and with great excitement.

“As a parent and follower of the Armenian Apostolic Church, I am deeply aware of the symbol and significance of the day, and I wish all Armenians have the love, blessing and pity of God,” said Mariam Kirakosyan.

Artur’s mother, Alla Margaryan told us that she became more excited when she saw how impressed her son was. “My son will never forget receiving a blessing from His Holiness and participating in the Foot-Washing ceremony.”

“The ceremony was very touching for the children and us parents because, due to circumstances, we haven’t received a Christian education. Good Thursday served as an opportunity for us to become familiar with the symbol and present it to our children. We entered the House of God with knowledge about the ceremony. I think all the children will remember the Foot-Washing ceremony. They entered the temple as little boys and came out as well-established Armenian Christians. My son, Levon said today was the most difficult, but happiest day of his life. I thank the administration of “Hayordats Tun” Armenian School and His Holiness for providing us with the opportunity to receive knowledge about the Church’s symbols and for making sure that the Holy Glorification becomes an inseparable part of our lives,” said Levon’s mother, Naira Khachatryan.

In the end, Father, Archbishop Yezras Nersisyan mentioned that the 12 boys who climbed to the top of the altar will become the worthy Armenians of the Armenian Apostolic Church and some of them might serve the Church. To make sure that the students remember the day, His Holiness distributed Bibles and crosses from Jerusalem to the students.

Armine Kareyan

Moscow