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July 5, 2002 For Immediate Release Vardavar Festival:The National Citizens' Initiative Organizes Republic-Wide Celebrations Yerevan—With the purpose of reawakening Armenian cultural and customary values and strengthening public pride, the National Citizens' Initiative (NCI) is organizing the Vardavar festival throughout Armenia on July 7 and 21. The traditional rite, practiced variously in different parts of the land, will be marked for the first time according to a uniform, comprehensive scenario.
Supported by the Armenian Apostolic Church, the unified program of festivities and the attendant ceremonies have been coordinated by a group of specialist ethnologists under the guidance of NCI Councilmember Dr. Hranoush Kharatian. The encompassing Vardavar scenario, including song verses and ritual details, has been distributed to all regions of Armenia and to all dioceses of the Armenian Church. On July 7, the "Transfiguration" holiday of the Armenian Apostolic Church, known popularly as the feast of Vardavar, will be held in Yerevan, Ararat and Armavir regions, in Gegharkunik, Kotaik, Aragatsotn, Akhurian, Artik, Vayots Dzor, and Vanadzor. On July 21, the festivities will take place in the Lori and Tavush regions and in some villages of Siunik. The discrepancy between the dates stems partly from the fact that in the northeastern regions of Armenia, Vardavar traditionally has been observed on the first Sunday following July 20. With the hope that in the near future the nation will achieve unity in relation both to dates and to the essence of festival ceremonies, NCI took into consideration the viewpoints of the people and launched the initiative accordingly. NCI councilmembers, ethnologists and other experts, and representatives of the Armenian Church and other denominations will take part in Vardavar, celebrated locally throughout the Republic. The National Citizens' Initiative is a public nonprofit association founded in December 2001 by Raffi Hovannisian, his colleagues, and fellow citizens with the purpose of realizing the rule of law and overall improvements in the state of the state, society, and public institutions. The National Citizens' Initiative is guided by a Coordinating Council, which includes individual citizens and representatives of various public, scientific, and educational establishments. Five commissions on Law and State Administration, Socioeconomic Issues, Foreign Policy, Spiritual and Cultural Challenges, and the Youth constitute the vehicles for the Initiative's work and outreach. For further information, please call
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