"Holt einen grossen Meister, Lasset ihn den Hochzeitsrock meines geliebten zuschneiden Die Sonne sei der Stoff Der Mond diene als Futter. Stellt aus Wolken die Einfassung her, Wickelt aus dem Meer Seidengarn, Befestigt die Sterne in einer Reihe als Knopfe, Näht die ganze Liebe hinein." (Abeghian p. 64.)
[149] For the ritual side of this festival, the church ceremony known as the Blessing of the Crops, or the Blessing of Harvest, and the prayers in connection therewith, F. C. Conybeare's Ritual Armenorum, and St. Mesrob's Maschtotz may be consulted. The social side I have gotten from my wife who has taken part in the festival several times.
[150] A very common custom, especially in the interior villages of Armenia, is to give a lighted candle and an apple or orange in which small silver coins have been stuck, as gifts to the children. This is done by the eldest member of the family, usually the grandmother, at the time the younger ones come up to kiss her hand and receive her blessing.
[151] For a description of the Easter and Christmas fasts, see Tavernier, Voyages 1:497-98.
[152] The festivals of New Year's Day, Easter, and Christmas, I have described as related to me by my wife who has celebrated them in company with others in Constantinople. Such variations practiced in the interior of Armenia as I am aware of, I have indicated.
[153] F. C. Conybeare, Ritual Armenorum pp. 213, 294.
[158] F. C. Conybeare, Ritual Armenorum p. 224.
[159] Brightman, Eastern Liturgies, chapter on Armenian Liturgy. For an interesting variation of this ceremony see Tavernier 1:502.
Closely related to this ceremony is that of the blessing or purifying of a well. A well is not used until a priest has first blessed it, or if the water of a well becomes impure, it is necessary to purify it by the blessing of a priest. The latter takes a cross and a Bible and having requested the people to draw a pail of water which is thrown away, a second pail is drawn, over which the priest reads a psalm. The water is then blessed with the cross, incense is burned over the well, and the pail of water is emptied back. (Maschtotz.)
[161] Contemporary Review 70:695. J. T. Bent.
[162] The people believe that the holy relic causes the mixture to boil.