By Adonia Agayan

YEREVAN, March 30 – Armenian Apostolic Church will celebrate Tsakhkazard (Palm sunday) on April 1. The feast marks Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It always falls on the Sunday before Easter Sunday. Other names for this day include Passion Sunday, Fig Sunday, Willow Sunday, Branch Sunday or Blossom Sunday.
Palm Sunday is the start of Holy Week commemorating events in the last days of Jesus Christ’s life.

On Palm Sunday, the Armenian Church remembers the multitude that welcomed with palms, olive branches and cries of Hosanna (Glory to God!) as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey with his disciples and followers. The Church is decorated with palms and olive branches, which are distributed to the worshippers. On Palm Sunday, the Armenian Church holds with “Opening of the Doors” (Trnpatsek) service, symbolic of our entrance into the heavenly Jerusalem.

Several years ago, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, proclaimed the Feast day of Palm Sunday Children’s Blessing Day.

Yerevan Report