GREAT BAREKENDAN
Dear Faithful Parishioners and Friends,
This Sunday, February 15, we will observe the Eve of Great Lent, also known as Great Barekendan. This day marks the beginning of the Lenten journey—a period of abstinence, repentance, and spiritual renewal as defined by the Armenian Church.
Each Sunday during Great Lent is named after a significant biblical event, carrying a message that guides the faithful along their spiritual path. The days leading up to major fasting periods, including Great Lent, are known as Barekendan, with the exception of the fast preceding Holy Nativity.
The word Barekendan means “good living” or “good life,” reminding us to live joyfully and gratefully before the fasting period begins. The spirit of Barekendan is reflected in the angel’s words to the prophet Elijah: “Arise and eat, otherwise the journey will be too great for you” (1 Kings 19:7). In keeping with this message, the Armenian Church encourages the faithful to celebrate Barekendan with feasts, games, festivals, and joyful gatherings. These moments of rejoicing and gratitude strengthen us for the spiritual discipline of fasting and abstinence that follows.
The Meaning of Great Barekendan
The Eve of Great Lent commemorates the blessed state of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden—a time of harmony and divine grace. It also serves as a reminder of God’s command that mankind could enjoy all fruits except those from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Barekendan symbolizes the virtues of the soul: the ability to transform sorrow into joy and torment into peace. With humility, penitence, fasting, and hope for divine mercy, every Christian is called to embark on this 40-day Lenten journey, culminating in the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Church Traditions During Great Lent
During Great Lent, church curtains remain closed, symbolizing how Adam, after sinning, was exiled from Eden and how the gates of Paradise were shut before him. This tradition serves as a solemn reminder of humanity’s need for repentance and redemption.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
The Letter of Paul to the Romans (13:11-14:25)
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honor-ably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall.
And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand. Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God. We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Why do you pass judgment on your broth er or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” So then, each of us will be accountable to God. Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. If your brother or sister is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died. So do not let your good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval. Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual up building. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for you to make others fall by what you eat; it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble. The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve. But those who have doubts are condemned if they eat, because they do not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew (6:1-21)
“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when-ever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Pray then in this way: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. “And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.