Vardavar: A Youth Celebration of Unity and Purification — Garni Once Again Gathered Festival Enthusiasts

Vardavar, or the Feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, is one of the five major feast days in the Armenian Apostolic Church and a key component of Armenian culture. Every year, it is celebrated with grandeur in Garni and Geghard. Dating back to pre-Christian times, Vardavar was known as the festival of Astghik, the goddess of love and roses. The Federation of Youth Clubs of Armenia (FYCA) traditionally organizes the Vardavar Festival, bringing together and encouraging young people to preserve and promote Armenian national, traditional, and spiritual values.

According to the Church calendar, the holiday is celebrated on the 14th Sunday (or 98 days) after Easter, falling on a Sunday between June 28 and August 1. In 2024, Vardavar was celebrated on July 7.

As Armenpress reports, Atom Mkhitaryan, President of the Federation of Youth Clubs of Armenia and Director of the Vardavar Festival, explained that the feast is based on the event of Christ’s Transfiguration on Mount Tabor:

“According to Christian belief, it reveals the true image of the purified and deified human. The radiant image of Christ is the peak of the godlike purity of an innocent human, achieved through the daily, challenging path of spiritual sanctification. Today, more than ever, it is important to value the celebration of Vardavar. We must walk the path of unity and purification and introduce young people to national traditions and Armenia’s unique cultural heritage, so that identity and Armenian roots may flourish.”

The festival’s main partner is the Kotayk Regional Administration, whose efforts bring together leading cultural and creative groups and institutions from the region. According to Mari Hovakimyan, Head of the Department of Culture and Sports and cultural coordinator of the festival, the celebration of Vardavar has become a valued tradition:

“Our region is home to two major cultural treasures. They are at the heart of preserving our history and traditions. The Federation of Youth Clubs of Armenia has inspired us all with the Vardavar spirit, consistently bringing to life the idea of this festival, first envisioned years ago.”

At Garni’s pagan temple, participants witnessed staged depictions of Noah, goddess Astghik, and god Vahagn. The event featured performances by:

• The “Hajin” Choir of Nor Hachn Cultural Center with a selection of Komitasian pieces;

• The Garni Center for Arts, Culture and Sports Dance Ensemble, performing the “Vardavar” dance;

• The “Tsilq” Ethnographic Ensemble from Byureghavan, with a piece titled “Tsaghkadzor”, along with rituals like the Rain-bringing Nuri and Khnudumi;

• The “Shogher” Theater Group of Charentsavan City Library, which presented “The Runaway Travelers from Grandma”, based on Hovhannes Tumanyan’s tale “The Travelers.”

The celebration also included traditional dance lessons and the customary water-splashing ritual. At Geghard Monastery, a youth blessing ceremony was conducted.

This year’s Vardavar Festival united everyone around a national and cultural youth initiative, attracting numerous foreign visitors who joined the festivities in Geghard and Garni.

According to Astghik Avetisyan, Festival Coordinator and President of the Armenian PR Association, the event has three major missions:

“First, to promote Armenian culture;Second, to preserve and spread national and spiritual values among youth;And third, to boost Armenia’s tourism appeal and strengthen Armenia-Diaspora ties.”

The festival is supported by the World Armenian Youth Network (WostAYN), the Armenian PR Association, and the Garni Municipality.