COMMON MANIFESTATIONS RITESOF PASSAGE AMONG THE ARMENIANS

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32653/CH222%25p

Keywords:

baptism, wedding, funeral, rite of passage, Armenian tradition, ritual practices, symbolic meanings, Christian theology, ethnography

Abstract

This study examines the structural, symbolic, and functional parallels and contrasts among the rites of baptism, marriage, and burial within Armenian religious and folk traditions. Particular attention is paid to the ritual objects utilized in these ceremonies and their significance within the social and spiritual life of both the individual and the community. The object of research comprises the primary transitional milestones of human life – birth, marriage, and death – which symbolize an individual’s biological, social, and spiritual transitions between distinct states of being. Notably, these three pivotal life events employ a shared religious and ritual framework that clearly delineates a time-bound transition from one stage to the next, precisely aligning with the concept of a “rite of passage.” To comprehensively analyze these ceremonies within the Armenian tradition, this study employs a multidisciplinary methodology. Through historical analysis, the evolution of these rituals is traced by examining ancient texts– including the Bible and the works of Agathangelos, Grigor Tatevatsi, and Hovhannes Erznkatsi– alongside the Armenian Church's ritual collection, the Mashtots, thereby contextualizing their development across different religious and historical eras. Ritual analysis is utilized to investigate the symbolism of these transitional rites, revealing their historical and theological contexts and examining the underlying Christian doctrines of spiritual rebirth and purification, with reference to the religious texts that illuminate their symbolic meanings. Additionally, ethnographic observation provides insight into the cultural practices and customs associated with these rites, as well as the application and commonalities of related ceremonial objects (such as the narot, belts, garments, water, and stone), which convey concepts of sanctification, fertility, continuity, and universal order across various ceremonies. Finally, a comparative analysis identifies the shared elements and distinct variations across the three rites, highlighting their interconnectedness in marking life transitions.

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Author Biography

  • Anahit Robert Mkhitaryan, Институт древних рукописей им. Месропа Маштоца (Матенадаран)

    Senior Researcher

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Published

2026-06-30

How to Cite

1.
Mkhitaryan AR. COMMON MANIFESTATIONS RITESOF PASSAGE AMONG THE ARMENIANS. ИАЭК. 2026;22(2):379-390. doi:10.32653/CH222%p