Tomorrow the Armenian Apostolic Church marks the Discovery of the Box Belonging to the Holy Virgin Mary. The Armenian Church has 7 days within the year dedicated to the Holy Virgin Mary, the “Discovery of the Box” being one of them.
Tradition states that two brothers, Kalpias and Gandidas, from Constantinople went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. There they heard that in a village miracles were occurring at a Jewish lady’s home. Curious to note what was happening, both entered the home where they discovered a box that belonged to the Virgin Mary, exchanging it with a box that looked similar in Jerusalem. The box was taken to Constantinople and was placed permanently in St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church in Constantinople. During the reign of Roman Levon the Great (454-474 A.D.), large processions protected by entourages would occur, marking what is now known as the Discovery of the Box Belonging to the Holy Virgin Mary.
Following the marking of this date, the Armenian Apostolic Church began commemorating this celebration in the 18th century with the Pontifical declaration of His Holiness Catholicos Simeon Yerevanetsi.
The Discovery of the Box Belonging to the Holy Virgin Mary coincides in the Armenian Apostolic Church calendar, five weeks after the Pentecost.