Palm Sunday to be celebrated March 24
The Armenian Apostolic Church is celebrating one of most favorite church holiday's Tsakhkazard - Palm Sunday (the Sunday before the Lent) on March 24. The feast celebrates the Triumphant Entry of Christ into Jerusalem.
On Palm Sunday, churches are decorated with branches from willow trees and palm trees. Following a solemn morning service, blessed willow branches are distributed to the faithful. The branches are taken home in belief that they bring Heaven's blessing and good luck during the whole year.
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians, has declared March 24 the day of children's sanctification. All churches will be held a ceremony of sanctification.
Jesus comes into Jerusalem riding atop a donkey and the people gather to meet Him with reverence, thus fulfilling the words of the prophet from the Old Testament.
On His arrival, a large crowd of people gathers to greet Him, and spread their cloaks on the road before Him, while others cut branches from palm trees and place them on the path. The crowd exclaims: "Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the Name of the Lord."
