Believers celebrate Christmas and Baptism in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh

Today, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Christmas together with Baptism under the united name of Epiphany.

The solemn service and liturgy, dedicated to the Nativity, took place in the religious centre of all Armenians in Echmiadzin (the monastery in the town of Vagarshapat (in 1945-1992 its name was Echmiadzin) is the spiritual centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the residence of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, – note of the "Caucasian Knot") with the participation of Catholicos Karekin the Second.

The liturgy was attended by President Serzh Sargsyan with his spouse, Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisyan, members of the government, MPs, heads of the diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Today, Armenian churches will serve the Festive Christmas Mass, followed by the rite of water consecration. Tomorrow, on January 7, Armenia marks the Memorial Day of All Deceased. Churches will serve Commemoration Mass, followed by the funeral service, the "Panorama.am" reports.

In Nagorno-Karabakh, believers also celebrate Christmas today. "On the eve of Christmas holiday, the evening liturgy, which is called the Liturgy of Christmas Eve, is served. On this day, believers light a candle in the church and carry it home to bless the house and prepare for the Christmas. On the following day, on January 6, the Christmas Liturgy is served in the morning," Albert Voskanyan wrote in his photo blog run on the "Caucasian Knot".