Surb Zatik is celebrated in Armenia. EURASIA KIDS About the Holidays of the Peoples of the World

The Armenian word "Zatik" (Easter) symbolizes deliverance from suffering, evil and death. Armenian Christians say to each other: “Christ has risen from the dead!” – “Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ!”  In Armenian, "Zatik" means liberation from sins. Easter is celebrated vividly in Armenia.

The Armenian Apostolic Church begins celebrating Surb Zatik on the night of Holy Saturday. The Holy Liturgy is celebrated in churches, and then the clergy announce the good news of the Holy Resurrection of Christ. After that, people greet each other. They take home the blessed lit candles. The next morning, on Sunday, Mass is celebrated.

Folk traditions made the holiday more colorful. Hostesses begin to prepare for it beforehand. They grow grain in a bowl - “acyk”.  It is a symbol of resurrection after death. Red colored eggs are placed in the grown grass. An egg symbolizes our world, the shell is the sky and air, protein is water, and the yolk is the Earth. Coloring eggs in red symbolized the Earth cleansing from sins by the Christ’s blood.

By Kirill Chirkov