Christmas continues in Armenian church

Celebrating his 60th Christmas this year, Father Moushegh Tashjian of St. Mary’s Armenian Church in Costa Mesa has noticed a few differences between the modern Christmas celebration and the ones he enjoyed as a child in Armenia.

For one, he said, he hardly remembers the presents he received during the holiday’s gift exchange — children would get a single toy under their pillow, typically on New Year’s Day, and piously spend the day ruminating on the religious significance of Christ’s birth and his revelation.

Not so much anymore, he jokes. Tashjian chuckles as he recalls bumping into a family from his congregation at Fashion Island, waiting to get their pictures taken with Santa.

“Both brothers had a wish list, and I looked at it and said, ‘My gosh!’ There must’ve been 30 or 40 items, including a Plasma television!’” he said. “I had to ask him: is this your list, or your father’s list?”

Nevertheless, the holiday still bears some traditional elements that the church has celebrated for centuries — most obviously, its celebration of Christ’s birth on Jan. 6, as opposed to the widely acknowledged Dec. 25.

The difference is attributable to a number of historical factors, including Armenia’s relative detachment from the Roman Empire’s influence in ancient history.

It was the Pope who changed the date of Christmas, by decree, in the 5th century, as well as a general cultural reverence for religious tradition, Tashjian said.

“We kind of like it: All the hoopla, hustle and bustle is behind and you just focus on the real true meaning of the birth of Jesus Christ,” he said. “You never worry or think about exchanging gifts — just the liturgy, the message, the worship.”

Southern California is well-known as having the largest Armenia population in the United States – indeed, some say, outside of Armenia itself. Los Angeles County is home to approximately 500,000 Armenians, while Orange County maintains a population of around 20,000.

Religious Armenians will spend their Christmas mornings in Church, where they participate in a unique ceremony symbolizing the birth and baptism of Jesus Christ. A cross, representing Christ, is placed in water and marked with holy oil from dove-shaped pitcher, blessed by the church’s supreme patriarch in Armenia. Hymns and other acts of worship are also practiced.

Typically, Tashjian says, churches will get together for large social gatherings following the mass, and enjoy each other’s company over traditional meals — including fish, pilaf, topik ( a side dish consisting of chickpeas, onions, sesame seed oil, lemon juice, spices, and sometimes walnuts, Tashjian’s wife Sylvan explains), and sweet breads.

Children often perform a nativity scene, and believers greet each other in the traditional Christmas fashion: “Christ is born and revealed,” with the reply “blessed is the birth and revelation of Jesus Christ.”

“This is the message of the Armenian Church,” Tashjian explains.

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at chris.caesar@latimes.com.