A glance at Armenian religious ceremonies for Imam Hussein

Taqrib News Agency (TNA): Our Armenians and Zoroastrians countrymen, in each part of Iran, love Imam Hussein (PBUH) and have special devotion to the hero of Karbala.

What is the secret of the Holy Imam Hussain (PBUH) that captives the hearts of every lover and even non-Muslims like him so much? In this text, we see how Armenians and Zoroastrians hold mourning ceremony for Imam Hussein (PBUH).

The priest respects the infallible Imam (PBUH).

In Armenian residential area in Tehran, there is a large church located near to one of the mosques in Karim Khan Street. I see many Armenians on my way every day. I heard that they have different programs for Muharram and hold special ceremonies during this time. So I got interested in knowing more about the hows of it and started making inquiry about that.

When I told the reason of my investigation to the pastor of Church of the villa, Vartanian, he underlined that Muharram and Ashura do not just belong to Shia people and Imam Hussain (PBUH) belongs to all people who are after freedom and justice.

“Ashura is the culture of standing against cruelty and the enemies,” said the Priest stating that the Martyr Imam Hussein (PBUH) showed, in effect, the way of humanity and truth.

The priest mentioned that although at that time the infallible Imam was martyred but the movement of Ashura was not fruitless and today all humans take Ashura and Imam Hussein’s Movement as their models.

“Ashura was an impressive uprising that will never be erased from the history and always will be remained steady,” Vartanian mentioned.

He underlined, “I always respect to the Shia Imam and each year if the day of Ashura coincided with one of the special days of the church, the bells are not sounded due to the respect to Imam Hussein (PBUH) and we accompany Shia people in their sorrow of Karbala and the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (PBUH).”

“Many of Armenians in Tehran during the days of Tasoua and Ashura give Nazri (Some food) as a gift of the Spirits of martyrs in Karbala, “Vartanian pointed out.

The Priest also get me familiar with one of the Armenians, named Yanis, who has so much Nazri during Muharram and said Yanis’s family love Imam Hussein ( PBUH); so I said goodbye to the priest and went to the Yanis’s house.

Yanis healed by Imam Hussein(PBUH)

I passed the streets and stood in front of the house of Yanis, knocking the door. Yanis’s mother opened it.

Talking to his mother, I got that the middle age woman with his only child left Canada to Iran and since that time has lived in this city.

When I asked her about Muharram and the hows of holding ceremonies for Imam Hussein (PBUH), her tears flowed spontaneously and she said, “Whatever we have is because of God’s mercy and after god, is because of Imam Hussein (PBUH).”

“I am a Christian but I like your Imam from the bottom of my heart,” said the woman.

She took her Ashura prayer book and went on,” this book is my life and whenever I feel bad, I review and read it because it makes me calm and relax.”

After a while Yanis entered the house and introduced himself. He was a 22 year-old-boy and a dental student at university.

“There is no end for love of Imam Hussain (AS) in my heart and I always feel a strong interest and respect toward him,” he mentioned.

He continued, “I never forget the kindness of Imam Hussein (AS) toward myself, let me tell you about what happened to me.”

Yanis went on, “Three years ago I was suffering from an unknown disease. Doctors had told me I had cancer. I was sick in bed for a long time with no hope for getting better. My sickness coincided with Muharram and there was a morning ceremony for Imam Hussein (PBUH) in front of the hospital. One day, one of the relatives of a patient in the hospital who did not know I am a Christian, told me why I did not resort to Imam Hussein (PBUH) and he said their patient had been healed by the Imam Hussein (PBUH).”

He continued, “I do not know why, but I preferred not to say something. My heart broken and I said to myself Imam Hussein is the Imam of Shia people, not mine. When I was thinking about such stuff I slept and had a dream. In my dream a kind man showed up and called my name. I asked him, who he was and he answered I am the Imam of all people not just Shia people. Then he asked me to stand up. I said I cannot but he answered you got what you want and asked me again to stand up.”

The young Christian, while his tears flowed over her face, states that, “I woke up and I jumped out of bed, I move and I felt great. I actually had been healed by Imam Hussein (PBUH).

Yanis continued,” the day after that event I was discharged from the hospital while there was no trace of the disease in my body, all the doctors were amazed. Since that day up to here we have hold mourning ceremony for Ashura in our house.”

“Each year we give Nazri to people and mourning groups,” the Christian boy mentioned.
I said goodbye to Yanis and his kind mother and went to see mourning ceremonies.

One of the interesting points about Armenians in Ashura is founding Sarallah mourning gathering. In this gathering roughly 700 mourners from Christianity and Zoroastrian minorities participate. They gather under the tent and hold religious mourning ceremony for Imam Hussein (PBUH).

Edmund Toufaniyan is one of the founders and co-sponsored of this gathering. He said in past, he, along with his young Muslim friends, went to Muharram religious ceremonies and participate in the morning gathering for Imam Hussein. Shia participants did not know that a young Armenian attended in those gathering.

“In 1378 we were informed that about four hundred Armenian young people were participating in those events, since that time we decide to found an Armenian gathering for holding Imam Hussein Mourning ceremony,” he mentioned.

Toufaniyan pointed to some obstacles of accomplishing this goal and said, “At the beginning, our plan made many ambiguities not only for Armenian community but also among Muslims, but after convincing them, we could found this religious body.”

“Many Muslims were happy to hear such news and the interesting point in this Mourning ceremony is the presence of Muslim preachers. Preachers are often invited to board and clarify the culture of Ashura and aims of Imam Hussein (AS) in this event,” he mentioned.

“Armenian mourning Ceremony is held similar to Muslim ceremonies. Religious singers sing dirges. Participants come together under the tent and after a while go outside and the Mass of mourners stand waiting till a young tall boy carry the special iron Muharram sign on his shoulder,” Toufaniyan said.

He went on, “Each year, the number of enthusiasts of Imam Hussein (AS) increases. The population in well-arranged lines goes to Bahar Shirazi Street.”

The Christian man said, “Women also accompany the religious body and after returning they distribute Nazri among mourning participants. “

Toufaniyan added, “tea, sugar, rice, meat, and all the expenses of the board of Imam Hussein (PBUH) provided by Christians.”

“Since 1379, the board name is registered in the Imam Hussein (PBUH) mourning boards of Tehran, and the number of participants increases every year,” he mentioned./SR