Attached is my translation of Asbet Manjikian’s take on Tzaghgazart (Palm Sunday) and Trnpatsek (Opening of the Door). The article was posted in Aztag Daily on April 1, 2023. Asbet Manjikian is a relative of mine and is a long-time employee of the Aztag Daily establishment, which happens to be a block or two from his apartment house in Bourj Hammoud. I admit that I am not sufficiently knowledgeable of the Armenian curch holidays, as I should and any Armenians should.
This is how Asbet Manjikian described Tzaghgazart
“The Sunday before Easter is Palm Sunday – Tzaghazart - which symbolizes Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Palm Sunday also symbolizes the first day of creation, when God created the heavens and the earth, spreading light, chased away darkness.
Jesus, knowing that he would voluntarily accept his death in order to show that he was the Lamb of God, who was willing to be sacrificed for the salvation of mankind, headed to Jerusalem to live out the last phase of his earthly life there.
God had commanded that on the tenth day of the month of Nisan (March-April), each of the children of Israel should take a one-year-old, unblemished, male lamb and keep it until the fourteenth day of that month, then sacrifice it in the evening. And Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Lamb of God the Father, entered Jerusalem five days before the Passover, to sacrifice himself as the new Passover lamb.
On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus performed his last miracles: he opened the eyes of two blind men and raised Lazarus, who had been dead and buried for four days.
Jesus went from Bethany to Jerusalem. The people followed him in great numbers. Jesus, in a humble manner, rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.
The disciples and the people enthusiastically welcomed the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem. Some spread their garments on the ground, while others, waving palm branches and olive branches, clapped their hands in the air and shouted: “Hosanna to the MostHigh! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Jerusalem was jubilant. Jesus immediately entered the temple, where he drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple area, overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves, to make the point t that the house of God was called to be a house of prayer and not a den of thieves.
Angered by this incident, the high priest and his associates decided to kill Christ.
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Palm Sunday commemorates Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. During the morning service, the hymn “Lord from Heaven” is sung, which, with reference to the Lord’s first coming, tells of His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
After the Gospel reading, the Liturgy of the Hours is performed: “May it be blessed and preserved and kept in the care of the Lord.” The four corners of the world, the earth, the fruitfulness of the year, the monasteries, the settlements and their inhabitants are blessed.
During the Divine Liturgy, olive branches are blessed, which symbolize goodness, abundance, fruitfulness, wisdom, peace and victory, and are distributed to the faithful.
Palm Sunday is proclaimed as the day of the blessing of children. When Christ entered the Temple in Jerusalem, the children cried out: “Blessed is the Son of David!” That is why the Palm Sunday procession and the blessing of children take place.”
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“The Trnpatsek (Opening of the Doors) service in the Armenian Church often takes place in the evening, frequently on the Friday evening before Palm Sunday. While sometimes held during Holy Week or as part of Sunday services, it traditionally represents a "vigil" or evening service, symbolizing the opening of the altar to commemorate the Second Coming.”
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This is how Asbet described Trnpatsek
“On the evening of Palm Sunday, the Opening of the Doors ceremony takes place.
In front of the closed curtain on the Holy Table of the Church, the clergyman kneels and sings the hymn “Open us, O Lord, open us, O Lord, the door of mercy, that we may cry out to You” and knocks on the door with a large key and tearfully prays to God on behalf of the faithful that He will not keep the doors of the kingdom closed to them because of their shortcomings and sins, but will forgive the sins of all of us and receive us into His eternal kingdom.
Another clergyman standing behind the closed curtain responds in the form of a dialogue and reminds us that this is the door of the kingdom, which is opened only to those who turn to God with repentance, contrition and faith.
Tblirs sing the hymn “Open us, O Lord, the door of mercy.” The cloister is opened, and all the lights in the church are turned on, picturing the light and glory of the kingdom of God and the entry of the righteous into the Kingdom with Christ.
At the end of the liturgy, the priest dismisses the people bidding them peace, with the prayer "King of Peace”.
Link: Հայ Եկեղեցւոյ Տօներ. Ծաղկազարդ Եւ Դռնբացէք-
April 1, 2023 -
