September 28 is the Feast of the Varaga Holy Cross: a feast that gathers hundreds of pilgrims at Nor Varagavank, where, in the shade of ancient walls, the unity of faith and our national memory is relived anew. The Varaga Holy Cross is a feast of spiritual strength, reminding us of the path through which our people preserved the roots of their faith. With the tradition of the cross procession, the faithful from the communities of Tavush, from different regions of Armenia and the capital, as well as from abroad, ascend to Nor Varagavank.
The relic of the Lord’s Cross, which every year is brought here from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, returns and rests in its once historical home.
After the Divine Liturgy, the relic of the Cross blesses the four corners of Tavush: the blessing spreads over our mountains and valleys, orchards and fields, villages and hamlets, in a united prayer for endurance and peace.
On this festive day, the celebration also becomes a cultural festival: by the initiative of the “Tavush” Union, in the area adjacent to the monastic complex, national songs and music resound, with performances by the “Horovel” ensemble and the cultural groups of Berd.
Nor Varagavank, built in the 13th century during the reign of the Kyurikian princes, is one of the spiritual and historical symbols of Tavush. Situated in an elevated area, dominating its surroundings and embraced by forests, Varagavank also attracts tourists visiting our country.
The scribes and historians of the Middle Ages left valuable references about Varagavank. Today, too, the monastery remains a place of return to the spiritual—a place where each person anew feels the color and fragrance of the homeland and the strength of spiritual virtue.
