Posts Tagged ‘Armenian’

Milwaukee Armenians Celebrate Nativity and Epiphany

Posted in News, tagged , , , , , , , on January 12, 2026|

By David Luhrssen

Milwaukee, WI — On Sunday, January 11, the Armenian community of Milwaukee marked the conclusion of the holiday season with the celebration of the Feast of the Nativity and Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, traditionally observed as Armenian Christmas. The sacred observance offered the faithful an opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas—the birth of Christ—beyond the distractions of commerce and consumerism.

During the Divine Liturgy (Badarak), Rev. Fr. Guregh Hambardzumyan delivered a sermon emphasizing the profound significance of Christ’s birth. While every human birth is meaningful, he noted, no birthday has had a greater impact on humanity or the course of history than the birth of Jesus Christ. Fr. Guregh reminded the congregation that although each person has the ability to influence the lives of others, no one has touched as many lives or shaped the world as deeply as Christ.

Following the Badarak, Rev. Fr. Guregh, together with Rev. Fr. Nareg Keutelian, led the traditional Blessing of the Waters service. This deeply moving ceremony commemorates the baptism of Christ in the River Jordan by St. John the Baptist, marked by the descent of the Holy Spirit and the revelation by God the Father that Jesus is His beloved Son. The godfather of the cross for this year’s Blessing of the Waters was Noubar Kazazian, an active and dedicated member of the St. John’s Armenian Church community.

The celebration continued in the church’s cultural hall, where parishioners and guests gathered for the annual Armenian Christmas potluck dinner. The event fostered fellowship and community, featuring a generous and diverse assortment of both Armenian and American dishes, and provided a joyful conclusion to the day’s spiritual observances.

Through worship, tradition, and fellowship, the Armenian community of Milwaukee came together to honor the Nativity and Epiphany of Christ and to reaffirm the enduring spiritual meaning of Armenian Christmas.

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MILWAUKEE ARMENIAN FEST A SUCCESS

Posted in News, tagged , , , on July 22, 2024|

By David Luhrssen

Several visitors to this year’s Milwaukee Armenian Fest commented on how professionally organized it was. From parking cars to ordering food, the event benefitted from many years of experience in handling an audience that has only grown in number. Most importantly, Armenian Fest gave returning visitors and first-time guests the same essentials that the festival has offered over the years—good food and hospitality.

Milwaukee Armenian Fest drew more than 1,000 visitors to the grounds and culture hall of St. John the Baptist Armenian Church in suburban Greenfield on Sunday, July 21. It was a joyful get-together for Armenian families from southeast Wisconsin. However, many visitors had never been to Armenian Fest and had no knowledge of Armenia. They were drawn to the event by social and other media publicity as well as prominent signage in front of the church.

The main attraction of Milwaukee Armenian Fest has always been the food, including familiar Armenian dishes such as beef and chicken shish-kabob, pilaf, sarma, paklava and more. But this year, more than in the past, an array of activities kept attendees entertained and informed. Contemporary and traditional music were provided outdoors by Racine, Wisconsin musicians Stepan and Mid-East Beat as well as performances by Chicago’s Siragan Dance Company. There were local Armenian vendors, children’s games and artmaking, an antiquities booth, church tours explaining the history and beliefs of the Armenian Church and a flourishing business in Armenian wine, preserves, T-shirts and jewelry at the culture booth.

A journalist from VOA (Voice of America) was on hand, interviewing members of St. John about the festival’s growth and about Milwaukee, where the 2026 Assembly of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church will be held.

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“I am Armenia” a new song on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s Independence

Posted in Videos, tagged , , on August 31, 2011|

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