26 03.06.11 - Holy Lance transferred from Holy Echmiadzin to Geghard for the first time in 200 years Holy Lance transferred from Holy Echmiadzin to Geghard for the first time in 200 years June 2, 2011 - 18:39 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Today, Armenian Apostolic Church is celebrating the Ascension Day to be marked 50 days after the Holy Easter. For the first time in 200 years, the Holy Lance that pierced Jesus’ side as he hung on the cross was transferred from Holy Echmiadzin’s treasury to Geghard Monastery. Upon completion of liturgy at Geghard, the lance was set in the church, with a free entrance to all faithful allowed. After the evening liturgy the Lance was returned to Echmiadzin. Further, a sacrificial offering was held in Geghard Monastery. The Holy Lance (also known as the Spear of Destiny, Holy Spear, Lance of Longinus, Spear of Longinus or Spear of Christ) is the name given to the lance that pierced Jesus's side as he hung on the cross in John's account of the Crucifixion. Geghard, Armenian for a Holy Lance is now conserved in Echmiadzin, the religious capital of Armenia. The first source that mentions it is a text Holy Relics of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in a thirteenth century Armenian manuscript. According to this text, the spear which pierced Jesus was to have been brought to Armenia by the apostle Thaddeus. The manuscript does not specify precisely where it is kept, but the Holy Lance gives a description that exactly matches the lance, the monastery gate, since the thirteenth century precisely, the name of Geghardavank (Monastery of the Holy Lance). Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. U.S. believes peace is “possible” in South Caucasus The United States continues to believe that peace is possible in the South Caucasus, Vedant Patel said. |