Poorvar
=
Censor
Incense and the censer are vessels in the Armenian Church. If you
remember from our last lesson, vessels are select objects used in our
church during worship services.
Incense (khoong) is the material used to produce a fragrant smoke
when burned. When used in our church, the rising smoke represents
our prayers going up to God. Revelation 8:4 reads “And the smoke of
the incense, with the prayers of the believers, went up before God out
of the angel’s hand.”
The censer (poorvar) is the container used to burn incense during the
Liturgy. It is suspended by three chains 2 feet long and 12 small bells.
The three chains symbolize the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
and a middle chain represents the Unity of the Holy Trinity. The bells
refer to the 12 disciples. The top lid of the container is decorative in
the shape of the dome of an Armenian Church.
The lower part of the poorvar symbolizes the souls of the believers, the
upper part Heaven, and the burning incense symbolizes the prayers
rising from our hearts to God. When the Deacon or Acolyte censes the
congregation, we respond by making the sign of the cross because we
are reminded of Christ and our prayers to Him.
The use of incense as part of worshiping God is prevalent in the Bible,
in both the Old and New Testament. If you would like to learn more
about this particular mini lesson, you can refer to the following scripture
verses:
Psalm 141:2 “May my prayers be counted as incense before you.”
Revelation 5:8
Exodus 30:1-9
Leviticus 16:12,13
Poorvar (Censer) is a silver incense burner, in the shape of a bowl, which is suspended by chains
connected to a small disc holding them. The bowl rests on a firm base, and has a perforated coneshaped lid. Three of the chains hold the bowl, and a fourth is connected to the top of the lid in order to
lift it. The lid could be decorative in the shape of the dome of an Armenian Church. The censer
symbolises the human soul, in which the spiritual fire burns its worldly desires and sends up its prayers
to God as a pleasing fragrance.
http://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/learning/church-vessels/
http://www.armenianchurchofwhit.org/CECminilessons.htm
Activity 1:
Make a poorvar
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Plastic cups, gold color
Gold chain (18” lengths, 4 per poorvar)
Bells (12 per poorvar)
Safety pins (preferably gold color to hold bells to chain and to bottom cup)
Hole punch (3 holes in bottom cup, safety pin end of chains to bottom cup)
Utility knife (3 large holes in top cup, allows chain to pass through)
Glue gun (glue end of 4th chain to top cup)
Activity 2:
Short Play:
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Break up into groups of two. One person is the Priest and the other is the Deacon.
The deacon holds the poorvar and khoong and says “Yev yevus khaghaghootyan uzDer
aghachestsook”
The Priest uses his Blessing Cross to bless the khoong and spoons some into the poorvar while
saying: Orhnootyoon yev parrk Hor yev Vortvo yev Hokvooyn Surpo, ayzhum yev mishd yev
havidyanus havidenitz. Amen.
Deacon:
Yev yevus khaghaghootyan
uzDer aghachestsook.
Again in peace let us beseech the Lord: Receive, save, and have mercy.
Priest:
Orhnootyoon yev park,
Hor yev Vortvo yev Hokvooyn Surpo,
ayzhum yev mishd yev havidyanus havidenitz.
Amen.
Blessing and glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and
always and forevermore. Amen.