Page 104 - THE ARMENIAN CHURCH_Neat

Rich Spirituality 105

the feasts of saints and parish churches are
an integral part of spirituality. Each feast
has its liturgical and popular traditions and
practices. Other expressions of spirituality
are gifts of incense and liturgical articles,
donations to the church, humanitarian
actions, and acts of devotion.
The Armenian Church has rules for sit-
ting, standing, and bowing during the liturgy.
The congregation stands when the Gospel
is read, prayer is said, and the Trisagion
is sung, and also at certain points during the
Holy Mass. As to crossing and bowing,
people make the sign of the cross when the
Lord’s Prayer and doxology are said at the
end of a psalm, hymn, or collect; people bow
in the middle of a prayer when the priest or
the deacon says "let us bow down to God."
During the recitation of the creed, the song
"Glory on high," and the Lord's Prayer, the
faithful clasp their hands, which symbolizes
the unity of the church and upward elevation
of our soul in proclaiming our faith.

Liturgical Books
The following books are used during the
liturgy:
– The Holy Bible (Surb Girk‘ or Astuaca-
šunč‘), the sacred writings of the Old and
New Testaments.