Շողակաթ Shoghakat Feast of Apparition of Holy Etchmiadzin
On Saturday before the Feast of Assumption of the Holy Mother of God the Armenian Church celebrates St. Gregory the Illuminator’s vision of Holy Etchmiadzin.
When St. Gregory our Illuminator was delivered from the pit, he came to Vagharshapt and gathered the relics of Holy Hripsimyants Virgins. And he began to teach people the word of life. He preached during the day and at night he prayed. And King Trdat in the likeness of a pig sat at his feet for 65 days.
And after 30 days from his deliverance from the pit he saw a powerful and amazing vision. For the heavenly firmament was torn and light poured out from the heights and all land was illuminated. With the light came down the multitudes of heavenly hosts, like fine dust that plays in the rays of sun on summer days. And the Only Begotten Son of God who was born of the Holy Virgin Mary in the likeness of man had the appearance of light. He glided down from above towards the earth as an eagle. And having reach the earth, He struck the earth with a golden hammer that the only Begotten God had in His hand. Great and powerful rumblings sounded in the depths of hell.
“And I saw in the middle of the city, near the royal palace, a circular base of gold, as great as a hill, and on it an exceedingly tall column of fire, and on top of that a capital of cloud, and on top of that again a cross of light. And I looked up and saw three other bases: one in the place where saint Gayane was martyred with her two companions, and one in the place where saint Hripsime was martyred with her thirty-two! companions, and one in the place of the wine-press. And these bases were red, the color of blood,? and the columns were of cloud and the capitals of fire. And on top of the three columns were crosses of light in the likeness of the Lord's cross. And the crosses of these columns were level with the capital of the column of light, for that one was higher than they. And from the four columns, above the crosses, marvelous vaults fitted into each other. And above this I saw a canopy of cloud, wonderfully and divinely constructed in the form of a dome. Under the canopy but above the vaults I saw these thirty-seven holy martyrs in shining light, with white garments, which I am not capable of describing.
And there gushed forth an abundant spring, flowing over all the plains and filling them completely as far as the eye could see. There was made a vast bluish sea, and the plains appeared altogether the color of heaven. And I saw a numberless multitude of fiery altars, and a column on each altar, and a cross on each column. And they shone out in infinite number like the stars.
And I saw numberless herds of goats, black in color, who having passed through the water turned into sheep, and their color became white and their fleeces sparkled like shining wool as rays flashed out from them. While I was still looking, suddenly the flocks gave birth and multiplied and their offspring filled the land. And the lambs that were born were covered in shining wool. Then suddenly still more offspring multiplied, and half of them crossed to the other side of the water. And these lambs became brown wolves and attacked the flocks and began to slaughter them, and there was shedding of blood. While I was looking, I saw that the flocks grew wings and flew up and joined the shining hosts. And there arose a torrent of fire which bore away the wolves.
And the multitudes of fiery altars which appeared to you, will truly be the altars of God which will distribute expiation to all. And they appeared fiery for this reason, because the worship of the Spirit will take place gloriously. And the columns by each altar (represent) the worship of the prayers of the priesthood.' And the crosses above them signify that the holy name of Christ will be glorified in every place. And they were as many as the stars because the services of holiness will multiply like the stars.
And the herds of many black goats who in going down to the waters turned into sheep, behold (this means that) the right hand of God's grace will come through the high priesthood, through which the fountain of baptism will flow for the forgiveness and expiation of many sinners. And their white wool which shone and sparkled signifies that the baptised will be clothed in light and become worthy of the promised kingdom. And the fact that the flocks gave birth and multiplied and filled the land signifies that the preaching will be increased for a long time, and new, renewed offspring will be born and baptism will be increased.
And the fact that half of the flocks went through the waters and (turned back) to the same side from which they had passed' means that in times to come there will be impious ones who depart from the truth; they will fall behind the standard of the holy covenant of the Godhead, and many will abandon the holy covenant. And from lambs they will become wolves who will slaughter the holy lambs - that is, those who depart from the truth and the priestly covenant will become wolves and will cause the shedding of the blood of the lambs, that is of the covenant and of the priesthood, and (will cause) confusion for the people. But those lambs which endure faithfully, either from among the people or the priests, will receive wings and rise to the kingdom of Christ. But those who will have the intentions of wolves or commit their rapacious deeds will be handed over to un-quenchable fire.” Aghatangelos History of the Arfmenians
And St. Greory after the wonderful vision came to pray and teach the multitudes for 37 more dyas. Then he healed the King who was in the likeness of a pig. And through the prayers of St. Gregory the king returned to the form and image of a man, beautiful in appearance and stature, more than in the past. St. Gregory preached to the King and to the multitudes to keep a fast. Then after observing the fast St. Gregory said to Kings Trdat “Come let us build the Holy Altar of Light According to the vision that God gave me.”
With the entreaties of the King and all the princes, and by the command of God St Gregory went to Caesarea. There he received the order of priesthood and the honor of the episcopate from the Patriarch Leontius.
And arriving back, with a solemn splendor he baptised the King and all the people of Armenia. God enlightened the Armenian nation with the knowledge of Light. And with great diligence they completed the construction of the temples where the fiery column descended and where the holy virgins martyred. Having completed the construction with great joy they consecrated the churches to the glory of Christ the Lord who is blessed forever. Amen.
