Feast of the Transfiguration
Vartavar
Վարդավառ — The Festival of Water
Vartavar (also spelled Vardavar (Վարդավառ) in Eastern Armenian) is one of Armenia's most beloved and joyful summer holidays — famously known as the “Festival of Water,” the day when people of all ages playfully drench each other in celebration. It is a feast that holds both ancient roots and deep Christian meaning, observed in the Armenian Apostolic Church as the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord — one of the major feasts of the liturgical year.
Origins and History
Vartavar dates back to pre-Christian pagan times in Armenia. It was traditionally associated with Astghik, the goddess of water, beauty, love, and fertility. In these ancient celebrations, people honored her by offering roses — the Armenian word vard means “rose” — sprinkling rosewater, and performing water rituals to invoke blessings for fertility, good harvests, and renewal. The second part of the name, var, can relate to “burning” or “flaming,” evoking the brilliance of roses or the summer heat and harvest season.
Some traditions also link Vartavar to the story of Noah and the Great Flood: after the waters receded and Noah's family found safety on Mount Ararat, he instructed his descendants to sprinkle water on each other in remembrance, and to release doves as a sign of peace and new beginning.
When Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as its state religion in 301 AD, the Church transformed many pre-existing customs rather than erasing them. Vartavar was reinterpreted and aligned with the Feast of the Transfiguration — the water element coming to symbolize purification, renewal, and the Holy Spirit; the roses, once offered to Astghik, becoming associated with the radiant light and beauty of Christ's transfigured form.
The Feast of the Transfiguration
At the heart of Vartavar is the commemoration of one of the most luminous moments in the Gospels — the Transfiguration of Christ on Mount Tabor, when Jesus revealed His divine glory to His closest disciples:
“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus… a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’”
This revelation of Christ's divine nature — His face shining like the sun, His garments blazing white — is what the water, the light, and the joy of Vartavar ultimately point toward. The feast invites the faithful to behold Christ not only as teacher and healer but as the eternal Son of God, radiant in glory.
When It Is Celebrated
Vartavar is a movable feast, observed 98 days (14 weeks) after Easter Sunday in the Armenian Apostolic Church calendar. It typically falls between late June and early August, at the height of summer.
2026
Easter falls on April 5, 2026 — placing Vartavar on Sunday, July 12, 2026.
Traditions and Celebrations
The hallmark of Vartavar is the playful water fight that engulfs communities across Armenia and the diaspora. People of all ages — friends, family, strangers — splash, spray, and pour buckets of water on each other. Getting soaked is entirely the point, and no one takes offense. In Yerevan, crowds gather at fountains, parks, and the iconic Swan Lake for massive water battles.
Other cherished customs include:
- Roses and flowers — Decorating homes and churches with roses, echoing the ancient offerings to Astghik and the radiant beauty of the Transfiguration.
- Releasing doves — Symbolizing peace, the Holy Spirit, and Noah's dove sent out from the ark after the Flood.
- Church services — Special Divine Liturgies, blessings of grapes and new fruits, and processions marking the feast in the liturgical calendar.
- Pilgrimages and regional celebrations — Visits to holy sites, particularly those associated with St. John the Baptist, with local healing and purification rituals that vary by region.
Among diaspora communities around the world, the water-splashing tradition continues in parishes, schools, and community gatherings — keeping the feast alive far from the Armenian homeland.
Cultural Significance
Vartavar is more than a water fight. It embodies themes of joy, renewal, community, love, and spiritual transformation. Recognized on Armenia's intangible cultural heritage list, it has preserved Armenian identity across centuries of history — through conquest, diaspora, and survival.
For the faithful of St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, Vartavar is a vibrant opportunity to celebrate Christ's Transfiguration while embracing the lively traditions that connect us to our ancestors. In the heat of summer, it brings people together in laughter and shared delight — a reminder that joy, too, is a form of worship.
“His face shone like the sun.” — Matthew 17:2
May your Vartavar be filled with blessings, joy, and plenty of water.
Celebrate with us at St. Mary
Join us for the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, July 12 as we observe the Feast of the Transfiguration together.