On November 29, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church will solemnly showcase the Holy Spear of Geghard during the Holy and Immortal Liturgy in the Cathedral of the Descent of the Only Begotten, where the sacred relic will remain for veneration until 6:00 PM as part of the feast of the Holy Apostles St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew.
The feast also commemorates the Holy Apostles St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew, the first enlighteners of the Armenian people. By the sacred encyclical of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, this day has also been declared a Day of Pilgrimage to the Holy Spear of the Lord, Saint Geghard.
The Holy and Immortal Liturgy will begin at 10:30 AM in the Cathedral of the Descent of the Only Begotten, during which the Holy Spear will be brought forth. On the eve of the feast, November 28 at 5:30 PM, a pre-festive rite will be held during the Evening Service in the Mother Cathedral, where the relics of the Holy Apostles St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew will be brought forth for veneration.
“We earnestly invite all devout faithful to bring their prayerful participation to the pre-festive rite and the Holy and Immortal Liturgy,” the Mother See said.
The Spear of Geghard, also known as the Spear of Destiny or the Holy Lance, is venerated as the sacred weapon that pierced the side of Jesus Christ during his Crucifixion and stands as one of the Armenian Church’s most treasured relics. Revered throughout Christian tradition, it is alsoc widely known as the Spear of Longinus, a title that reflects its central place in centuries of Christian history and devotion.
Relics identified with this sacred lance began appearing as early as the 6th century in Jerusalem, and by the Late Middle Ages, fragments or spearheads connected to it were recorded throughout Europe, many of which remain preserved today. Throughout history, these relics have been used in religious ceremonies and were at times regarded as symbols of divine protection in warfare, as seen when the Crusaders believed their discovery of a Holy Lance secured victory during the Siege of Antioch.
In the modern era, four major relics are venerated as connected to the Holy Lance, located respectively in Vagharshapat, Rome, Vienna, and Antioch, with the Armenian Spear of Geghard held as one of the most historically significant and spiritually revered within the Armenian Apostolic Church.
