Terendez is a feast of purification in the Armenian
Apostolic Church
and Armenian Catholic Churches,
celebrated 40 days after Jesus’s birth. The celebration of the Terendez is
pagan in origin and is originally connected with sun/fire worship in ancient
pre-Christian Armenia,
symbolizing the coming of spring and fertility.
On February 14, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of the Lord’s
Presentation on the Temple.
Terendez is also called Tiarn’ndaraj, or Candlemas as it is known in the West, symbolizes
the presentation of the 40 day old Christ Child to the Temple
in Jerusalem. In the tradition of the Church, Evening Services are conducted
on the nigh preceding the Feast Day. At the conclusion of the service, the
priest lights a candle from the Holy Altar, and distributes the flame to all
present. With great care, the faithful take the lit candles home to their
families.
Many other additional customs have been inherited from
the past. On this day people, mostly newly married couples, are jumping over the
fire, which is believed to burn the evil.
