This year, the Summer Solstice was on June 20th. On this day, the sun is at the highest point of the year, and it is the longest day of the year, so this phenomenon was previously considered the most significant holiday of the year. It was also associated with the consecration of apricots and harvesting in general.
On June 22, the members of the “Carahunge Armenological Center” received us at the Hasmik Baghramyan "Tonatsuyts" guest house in Byurakan to celebrate the sacrament of the day in the way our ancestors might have celebrated on this day, we tried to piece together the crumbs of ancient knowledge that have come down to us, and why not, instinctively restore a lost connection with our origins from the deep of time.
Hasmik presented her vision, shared a wealth of knowledge, as well as her own interpretation of the mysteries contained in Armenian fairy tales. The guests have added their own stories and thoughts.
Then we visited the Church of St. Hovhannes (note that the lower part of the khachkar on the threshold of the church shocked us with its deep meaning), as well as two springs, Katsnaghbyur (Milk spring) and Meghraghbyur (Honey spring). By cleansing and washing the springs, we ask them for wisdom. According to tradition, it is necessary to go through 7 sources one by one, and only then will you gain knowledge and wisdom. The summer solstice days are also considered the days of the good dragon guarding the water sources.
We visited the old chapel, from which a source of milk water used to flow, but at one time it was removed and taken out. We sang traditional folk songs among the ruins of an old church, our voices intertwined with each other like threads and flew into space. We pulled out some fragments of khachkars from the pile of stones outside the church and took them inside so that they were more preserved.
The evening was spent at a beautiful table, in the center of which was dolma, the obligatory and remarkable meal of the day. Having an interesting conversation again, we were separated late in the evening.
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