According to the Christian tradition, the vestments for liturgy are a material representation of divine glory and honor. Every detail, every rule is important in them. The Armenian Apostolic Church dates back to the traditions of the old Eastern churches and honors ancient customs. When preparing for a liturgy, the priest puts on each part of the garment in a certain order, sanctifies it and recites a prayer. The vestments of the clergy in the Armenian Church are similar to those of the Eastern Churches, but they are more Latinized. The color scheme does not have any special significance in the Armenian tradition — each priest chooses the colors according to their own taste, provided the crosses are depicted correctly on the cloth.
Altar slippers are among the obligatory items for priests in the Armenian Apostolic Church. They are worn when ascending to the main sacred space of the church — the altar — which in the Armenian Church is traditionally consecrated in the name of the Mother of God. The tradition is related to Apostle Bartholomew, who, according to legend, was not present at the burial of the Virgin Mary. “His deep sorrow aroused the sympathy of his brethren, who, desiring to comfort their brother, gave him the icon of the Mother of God, endowed with a miraculous power.” The apostle did not part with the relic and took it with him to Armenia, where in the village of Darbnotz Kar (which means “blacksmith’s stone”) he built a chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary and placed her image in it. Later on, the convent of the Holy Spirit Ogevank was built around the chapel.
The altar slippers from the permanent exhibition of the Museum of the History of World Cultures and Religions previously belonged to Torgom II, the ninety-sixth Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Armenian Cathedral of St. James. Ter-Sarkis, the abbot of the Surb Vardan Armenian Church in Kislovodsk, gave the slippers to the Museum.
The upper part of the liturgical shoes is made of black velvet and hand-embroidered with multicolored mouliné and gold threads. The sole is made of thick leather. The color of the altar slippers can be different, but their characteristic feature is that in the heel area there are images of a scorpion and a dragon, which represent the forces of evil. This design makes reference to the psalm, which says that the Creator gave people the power to trample scorpions and dragons.
Altar slippers are among the obligatory items for priests in the Armenian Apostolic Church. They are worn when ascending to the main sacred space of the church — the altar — which in the Armenian Church is traditionally consecrated in the name of the Mother of God. The tradition is related to Apostle Bartholomew, who, according to legend, was not present at the burial of the Virgin Mary. “His deep sorrow aroused the sympathy of his brethren, who, desiring to comfort their brother, gave him the icon of the Mother of God, endowed with a miraculous power.” The apostle did not part with the relic and took it with him to Armenia, where in the village of Darbnotz Kar (which means “blacksmith’s stone”) he built a chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary and placed her image in it. Later on, the convent of the Holy Spirit Ogevank was built around the chapel.
The altar slippers from the permanent exhibition of the Museum of the History of World Cultures and Religions previously belonged to Torgom II, the ninety-sixth Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Armenian Cathedral of St. James. Ter-Sarkis, the abbot of the Surb Vardan Armenian Church in Kislovodsk, gave the slippers to the Museum.
The upper part of the liturgical shoes is made of black velvet and hand-embroidered with multicolored mouliné and gold threads. The sole is made of thick leather. The color of the altar slippers can be different, but their characteristic feature is that in the heel area there are images of a scorpion and a dragon, which represent the forces of evil. This design makes reference to the psalm, which says that the Creator gave people the power to trample scorpions and dragons.
