Next Sunday, April 13, we celebrate Palm Sunday, the Glorious Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

During this celebration, olive branches are blessed and distributed to the people so that everyone can participate in Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

The Armenian rite has a magnificent ceremony for this day, the Opening of the Doors. The archpriest walks with the people outside the church door and knocks on the door three times, beseeching the Lord to open the doors of mercy for him and his people. Like the five wise virgins, all the people hold lit candles and wait for the church doors to open so that they can enter with song and prayer.

The beautiful purely Armenian ceremony of Antasdan is also performed beforehand, where the four corners of the world are blessed.

See the pictures here - Palm Sunday In the Kindergarten