Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Every year on the last Sunday in September there is a big feast in Varagavan village of Tavush region. At that time people are very joyful and excited, as the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is being celebrated in the church Nor Varagavank. The Monastery yard and its surrounding territory are crowded on that day.

The members of SOS Culture youth club were enthusiastically waiting for the day. They have cleaned up the surrounding of the church beforehand, for the visitors to make a pleasant view. The children served as an example wishing to show others the importance of preservation of cultural assets and the cleanliness of their surrounding area.

The representatives of the SOS Culture Project from Yerevan head office were also present at the feast. Together with the children they shoot the whole process of celebration, in order to have the material used in their film which tells about the Nor Varagavank Monastery.

Quick history reminder: Pretty Hripsime captivated the Roman King Diocletianus (284-305 years) by her dazzling beauty, who wished to get married to her. Disobeying the king, the pious nuns, led by their Abyss Gayane, ran away from Alexandria. According to the tradition, Holy Godmother appeared to them and told them to leave for the Araratian country - Armenia. So, the nuns went to Vagharshapat. On their way, passing by the Mountain of Varague, Hripsime buried in the earth a relic from the wooden Holy Cross, which she always had on her neck. The relic was found by a miracle in the 7th century and since then the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varague started to be celebrated in the Calendar of the Armenian Apostolic Church along with the other feasts dedicated to the Holy Cross.