Armenians from Sassoun lit candles and prayed at Mereto Peak, Western Armenia

Epic scholar Hayk Hambardzumyan, who attended the celebrations from Armenia, said, “Vartavar Feast, which is celebrated by the Armenian Apostolic Church and commemorates the transfiguration of Jesus Christ, is celebrated here at a slightly later date.

Sassoun people went up to Maruta (Mereto) Mountain during the Vartavar Festival, celebrated the holiday and made their offerings at the Surp Asdvadzadzin (Mother Mary) Church on the hill. This tradition was held this year too.”I had the chance to eat votive meals together with the people of Sassoun and a group of tourists from various provinces, and go to the Maruta Surp Asdvadzadzin church and offer my prayers there,” he said.

Besse Kabak, a Sassoun Armenian living in Istanbul, said: “I have been participating in Mereto celebrations since 2007. I come in that direction with the same feeling and enthusiasm every year. The votive bulghur I brought from Istanbul served us throughout the trip. Some sent votive candles, some sent votive bulghur. Even though I came from Istanbul as one person, I brought the sacrifices, bulghur and prayers of dozens of people. I combined these prayers with the prayers of the people who participated in the dedication celebrations here. In the past, everyone residing in these regions, regardless of religion, language or race, attended these celebrations with their white clothes, lit their candles on Mereto Hill, prayed and watched the sunrise. “Our aim is to make these celebrations a tradition where all our people come together, as before,” he said.