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FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION - VARTAVAR

SYNAXIS READINGS

Wis. 7:25-8:4 Zechariah 14:16-21

1 John 1:1-7

Matt. 16:13-17:13

Morning Service at 9:30 am

Divine Liturgy at 10:30 am

Celebrated by:

REV. ARCHPRIEST FR. ZAREH ZARGARIAN

Vicar and Parish Priest

Choirmaster: Dn. Shahe Altounian

Organist: Mrs. Sona Artinian

1 JOHN 1:1-7

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all b sin.

MATTHEW 16.13-17.13

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, b and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades c will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be d bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be e loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life f will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus cameand touchedthem. “Getup,” hesaid. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Thedisciplesaskedhim,“WhythendotheteachersofthelawsaythatElijah must come first?”

Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1John4:11-12

THE FEAST OF TRANSFIGURATION

The Feast of the Transfiguration is one of the five dominical feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, also known as Vartavar. It commemorates the transformation or the “transfiguration” that occurred while Jesus was praying. The Apostles Peter, James and John witnessed that event which occurred on mount Tabor. Evangelists St. Matthew, St. Mark and St. Luke testify about the transfiguration of Jesus in the Gospels (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:1-12, Luke 9:28-36).

DID YOU KNOW?

St. Gregory the Illuminator established the celebration of the Feast of the Transfiguration in our church on the first day of the month of Navasart August 11, which was the first day of the Armenian calendar of that time. Later, the Armenian church calendar underwent some modifications by Catholicos Movses II Yeghivartzi (574-604), and the date of the Transfiguration was changed from August 11 to the Sunday, that falls fourteen weeks after the Feast of the Resurrection. The date was moved,

because it was too close to another tabernacle feast, the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Transfiguration of our Lord occurred before His Resurrection and Ascension, so why in the church calendar it is celebrated after feasts of Easter and Ascension? It is believed that the church fathers established the feast in that order, because after the Transfiguration, Jesus asked His disciples not to talk about His Divine nature until after His Coming Resurrect

VARTAVAR TRADITIONS

On the Feast of Transfiguration, a pot of water was places in the church by the altar. After the Divine Liturgy, when the faithful came to the Altar to kiss the Holy Bible, the celebrant priest sprinkled water on faithful.

Releasing the doves is another popular tradition of Vartavar. It is believed that the custom of releasing pigeons comes from the biblical story about Noah, where Noah released a dove to determine whether the waters of the Flood had all subsided. Vartavar was a traditional day of pilgrimage to churches. The most popular destination was the Monastery of Sourp of Moush, where the main church was named in honour of St. John the Baptist. The pilgrims celebrated the feast by prayers, playing various traditional Armenian games and singing and dancing.

According to tradition, just the way people would have the first taste of the grape’s harvest on the Feast of Assumption of St. Mary, the apple harvest would be tasted for the first time during the Feast of Transfiguration. Grilled apples were the traditional food of Vartavar. Faithful also decorated the church doors with roses and apples.

Many faithful believe that according to tradition, on the night of Feast of Transfiguration, heavenly light descends on the tombs of the saints and whoever witnesses it will have his most sacred dreams fulfilled.

CELEBRATED NAMES

On July 27 we celebrate the Feast of Transfiguration and on this occasion the following names are celebrated: Alvart, Zarvart, Lousvart, Nvart, Rosa, Rose, Sirvart, Vartouhi, Vart, Vartanoush, Varteni, Varteres, Vartiter, Varsenig, Vardavar, Vardkes, BayzarandPatrick .

COMMEMORATION OF THE APOSTLE THADDEUS

AND THE VIRGIN ST. SANDOUKHT (AUGUST 2)

St. Thaddeus the Apostle and St. Sandoukht the Virgin are two of the most venerated saints in the Armenian Church. The “Great Conversion” of the Armenian nation to Christianity is connected to their names.

Following the Ascension of Christ, according to the Lord’s message: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...”, Thaddeus departs for Edessa. There he preaches the Gospel, and among his numerous miracles, he heals the king Abgar.

In the year 44 A.D., Thaddeus travels to Armenia and enters the domain of the pagan King Sanadrouk. After preaching in various parts of Armenia, St. Thaddeus converts many to Christianity, which become the foundation of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

While in the region of Ardaz, the Apostle Thaddeus also converts Princess Sandoukht to Christianity. Her father, the Armenian King Sanadrouk becomes aware of his daughter’s conversion and pressures her to return to her native pagan religion, but his efforts were vain. The enraged king imprisons both the Virgin Sandoukht and St. Thaddeus and subjects them to severe torments.

Another effort was made to persuade the Virgin to give up Christianity by an Armenian noble. This effort resulted in the noble converting to Christianity himself. Finally, the king orders the death of his own daughter, Sandoukht and the Apostle Thaddeus. They were martyred in Shavarshan, the summer residence of the royal family in the region of Ardaz.

Both the apostle’s and the first saint’s relics were discovered by means of a divine vision near the field of Shavarshan by a monk named Giragos, at some time in the 4th or early 5th century.

DID YOU KNOW?...............

A-St. Sandoukht became the first martyr and the first saint of Armenian church to be martyred for her Christian faith. This is how Archbishop Shinork Kalousdanian describes the protomartyr of the Armenian church: 'What St. Stephen means for the Christian Church, the same is St. Sandukht for the Armenian Church'.

B-The Armenian Apostolic church honors St. Thaddeus along 3 times a year:

• 12 Apostles-Commemoration of Christ's 12 apostles and thirteenth apostle - St. Paul

• St. Bartholomew - Commemoration of St. Taddeus and St. Bartholomew

St. Sandoukht - Commemoration of the apostle Thaddeus and the Virgin Sandoukht.

List of Donations: August 4- 11, 2026

GENERALDONATIONS

Mrs. Sonia Artinian $50

Ms. Margarit Karagyozyan $50

Mr. Vartkes Rubenyan $50

LOUMA

Mr. Pedros Chinchinian $100

Mrs. Loussward Babapour $50

Mr. John Yeghouchian $100

MEMBERSHIP

Ms Tanya Khojajian $100

WOMEN’SGUILD

Mrs. Sophie Kuzuyan $50

INMEMORYOF

THE LATE MELIK ZARGARIAN

Mr. & Mrs. Saro and Arsineh Zargarian $300 (Women’s Guild)

Mr. & Mrs. Ishkhan Zargarian $100

THE LATE GAZAR BAYGIN & SEVAN BAYGIN

Mrs. Diruinsa Baygin $300 (Women’s Guild)

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Mr. & Mrs. Ara & Astra Hagopian $100

Mr. & Mrs. Garen and Nicole Kokorian $100

Mr.& Mrs. Ara and Annie Selyan $100

Mrs. Sirvart Mikaelian $100

The Aharonian Family $100

Mr. & Mrs. Andre & Seza Nazarian $100

Mrs. Margaret Gulian $50

Dr. Berj & Mrs. Aida Bardekjian $100

Mr. & Mrs. Stepan & Houri Najarian $50

Mr. & Mrs. Ohannes & Makruhi Karak $100

Ms Jeannette Ohannesyan $100

Ms Azadouhie Mahdessian $25

Mr. & Mrs. Hagop & Juliette Janbazian $50

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Mr. & Mrs. Vahe & Rozet Madian $50

Mr. Harry Kassabian $100

Mr. & Mrs. Bradford & Natalie Sloss $50

Talar Ara and Nayri Balouzian $50

Mr. Aris B Babikian $75

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Mr. & Mrs. Serge & Wilma Colekessian $100

Mr. & Mrs. Mihran & Seta Cavdar $100

Ms Ani Kerametlian $100

Ms Sonia Dakessian $100

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Ms Arine Kemkemian $100

Ms. Maral Kirijian $50

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Hasmig Boyajian $25

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Ms Karin Zabunyan $100

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Mr. & Mrs. John & Kalina Adamo $100

Mr. & Mrs. Aram & Tili Isnar $100

Mr. & Mrs. Stephan and Laura Ekmekjian $200

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Miss Patil Imasdounian $100

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Mr. & Mrs. Hampar & Grace Davidian $100

Mr. Haig – Aram Tossounian $100

Mrs. Hripsik Sarkissian $100

Mrs. Grace Eudemishlian $100

Ms. Sonia Bastermajian $25

Mr. & Mrs. Garo and Ani Hovagimian $80

Mr. & Mrs. Ohan and Anita Ohanessian $200

Mr. & Mrs. Sarkis & Seta Balian $150

Mr. Walter Khatchadourian $100

Mr. & Mrs. Berdj & Siran Alexanian $100

Mrs. Sylva Kemkemian $100

Mr. & Mrs. Antranik & Alice Baronian $100

Ms Nairy Habibian $100

Mr. & Mrs. Jirayr & Houry Aznavourian $50

Mr. & Mrs. Onnig & Lucy Froundjian $100

Mrs. Frances Kandaharian $100

Mrs. Sonia Artinian $50

Mr. Hratch Vartanian $30

Dr. Raffy and Mrs. Sonia Chouljian $200

Mr. & Mrs. Harutiun & Seta Sahakian$100

Mrs. Louisa Kazandjian $100

Mr. & Mrs. Haig and Yeranuhi Kelledjian $50

Mrs. Anais Orchanian $100

Ms Taline Baltayan $100

Ms Hasmik Kurdian $100

THELATEBENJAMINAMPAGOUMIAN

Ms Arax Linda Karan $100

Mr. Mark Souvalian $200

The Semerdjian Family $200

Mrs. Sara Tomasian $50

Mrs. Mireille Diradour $100

Mr. Peter Machacek $20

Mr. & Mrs. Hagop Bastermajian $110

Mr. & Mrs. Heinz & Sirvart Benedikt $100

Mr. Tuyet Mac $100

Mr. Sogomon & Areknaz Sakarya $100

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THELATEGAZARBAYGIN

Mr. Mardiros Baygin $100

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THELATEHAIGDEROHANIAN

Mr. & Mrs. Stephan and Laura Ekmekjian $100

Ms Nairy Habibian $100

Mr. & Mrs. Kegham and Vivian Kokorian $100

Ms. Sylvia Der Sahakian $300

Mr. & Mrs. Haig and Yeranuhi Kelledjian $50

Mr. & Mrs. Alexan and Nora Baltayan $100

Ms Hasmik Kurdian $100

THELATEHAIGAZASSADOURIAN

Ms. Tamar Assadourian $100

THELATEYERVANTCHOULJIAN

Ms. Houri Simonian Houldsworth $50

Mr. Yervant Tirpan $50

Mr. Arno & Christine Ermarkaryan $50

APPRECIATION

We thank all our donors for supporting Holy Trinity Armenian Church through their heartfelt donations. If you prefer to stay anonymous, please contact the Church office and inform the administration.

Donations may be made: Over the phone: 416 431 3001

E-transfer via: info@TorontoArmenianChurch.com

Cheques payable to: HTAC

Tel:

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Link to the survey: https://www.barevcentre.com/news/community-survey

REMEMBRANCE OF THE DEAD

Monday, July 13, 2026

Requiem Service at 10:30 am

At York Cemetery, Section 3 at the site of Armenain Genocide Memorial 160 Beecroft Rd. Toronto M2N 5Z5

The blessing of individual graves by Rev. Archpriest Fr. Zareh Zargarian

To schedule the blessing of your loved ones’ graves, please contact the Church office by July 11, afternoon. info@TorontoArmenianChurch.com Tel: 416-431-3001 ext. 3