Dry People Wanted: Vardavar in Yerevan
Vardavar, also known as the Transfiguration of Christ, is one of the five major feast days of the Armenian Apostolic Church. According to the church calendar, it is celebrated on the Sunday 98 days after Easter. This year, the celebration took place on July 27.
Starting early in the morning, the city prepares for the water festival. Water trucks appear everywhere, pools and fountains are cleaned, and people search for the nearest sources of water.
Despite their mothers' pleas to wait a few more hours until the sun warms the air, the children begin their water games early in the morning.
First come the water 'guns,' but soon their spray is no longer enough, and the 'heavy artillery' is brought out—buckets of water or large yogurt or butter containers carefully washed the day before by moms.
And where does all that water come from? From every possible source—household faucets, public fountains, and the basins of decorative fountains.
In the center of Yerevan, neatly arranged buckets appear, sold for 1,000 AMD each. Later, they begin to be sold pre-filled with water. To be fair, the price of the bucket doesn't change because of that.
Another hour will pass before men pull rubber hoses out of their garages or deep storage spaces, connect them to fountains, and secure the most uninterrupted supply of water.
It's time to hold on to the most valuable things—phones and money.
People who have started water games in their courtyards gradually gather in nearby parks or squares. The groups soon grow larger.
The shout 'Dry person!' rings out, and everyone runs toward a passerby in the distance. Usually, it's a young and attractive woman.
And, of course, get a worthy response.
The most intense part of the day, of course, takes place in Republic Square, where not only Yerevan residents—who have already settled scores with all the 'victims' in their neighborhoods and streets—gather to celebrate, but also visitors to the city.
The water fight continues until the evening, with periodic breaks for drying off or resting.
At the end of the day, you can often hear, 'Only in Armenia could there be a celebration like this.' Some say it with admiration throughout the day, while others say it as they finally open their blinds and breathe a sigh of relief.
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EVN Report
28-07-2025
- EVN Report
Dry People Wanted: Vardavar in Yerevan
For many, it's a day of endless joy, fun and turning the impermissible into the permissible. For others, it's a day to stay home, shut the blinds, and ignore knocks on the door. That day is Vardavar, one of the most beloved and eagerly anticipated traditional Armenian summer holidays. Vardavar, also known as the Transfiguration of Christ, is one of the five major feast days of the Armenian Apostolic Church. According to the church calendar, it is celebrated on the Sunday 98 days after Easter. This year, the celebration took place on July 27. Starting early in the morning, the city prepares for the water festival. Water trucks appear everywhere, pools and fountains are cleaned, and people search for the nearest sources of water. Despite their mothers' pleas to wait a few more hours until the sun warms the air, the children begin their water games early in the morning. First come the water 'guns,' but soon their spray is no longer enough, and the 'heavy artillery' is brought out—buckets of water or large yogurt or butter containers carefully washed the day before by moms. And where does all that water come from? From every possible source—household faucets, public fountains, and the basins of decorative fountains. In the center of Yerevan, neatly arranged buckets appear, sold for 1,000 AMD each. Later, they begin to be sold pre-filled with water. To be fair, the price of the bucket doesn't change because of that. Another hour will pass before men pull rubber hoses out of their garages or deep storage spaces, connect them to fountains, and secure the most uninterrupted supply of water. It's time to hold on to the most valuable things—phones and money. People who have started water games in their courtyards gradually gather in nearby parks or squares. The groups soon grow larger. The shout 'Dry person!' rings out, and everyone runs toward a passerby in the distance. Usually, it's a young and attractive woman. And, of course, get a worthy response. The most intense part of the day, of course, takes place in Republic Square, where not only Yerevan residents—who have already settled scores with all the 'victims' in their neighborhoods and streets—gather to celebrate, but also visitors to the city. The water fight continues until the evening, with periodic breaks for drying off or resting. At the end of the day, you can often hear, 'Only in Armenia could there be a celebration like this.' Some say it with admiration throughout the day, while others say it as they finally open their blinds and breathe a sigh of relief.
Irish Daily Star
24-04-2025
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Vatican overrun as mourners snap ghoulish photos of Pope Francis lying in state
Thousands of mourners are flocking to the Vatican to pay their respects to Pope Francis , who is lying in state. Some have even taken the opportunity to snap a quick photo of the late pontiff. The Holy See has indicated that they may need to extend the viewing hours for the pope's coffin tonight due to the massive crowds that lined the streets of the Vatican on Wednesday. They were hoping to catch a glimpse of Francis inside St. Peter's Basilica following his death at the age of 88 on Easter Monday. The lines in the late afternoon were reportedly at least eight hours long, and those who do make it inside the chapel will only have a few seconds to view his body before being moved along. Read More Related Articles Donald Trump branded 'disgusting' as he honors Pope Francis in 'baffling' way Read More Related Articles 'Hideous' Trump hangs new self-portrait in White House next to his greatest political rival While some mourners have taken to being respectful to the deceased Pope, other have taken out their cameras to snap a pic of the man's body (Image: Getty Images) In an attempt to prolong the moment, some visitors have been seen taking out their camera phones and snapping a picture of the pope's body from behind the cordon . One photo taken inside the basilica showed phones being held high above the crowd, while some of the faithful also held up homemade banners. Others chose to commemorate the solemn occasion in a more traditional manner, bowing their heads and saying prayers as they filed past the coffin. Many of those paying their respects had initially come to Rome to celebrate Easter, only to be greeted with the news of Francis' death on Monday, reports the Mirror . Many of those paying their respects had initially come to Rome to celebrate Easter, only to be greeted with the news of Francis' death on Monday (Image: Philip Coburn/Daily Mirror) 'I was very moved coming so close to Pope Francis, but it was awful seeing so many people taking pictures," Catherine Gilsenan said. 'Around half the people near us wanted to pay respects at the coffin, but the other half were all taking photographs." 'We kept our phones very firmly in our pockets and would never dream of doing something so distasteful," Gilsenan added. 'People had been told not to use selfie sticks but lots ignored the warning. " Francis was laid to rest in St Peter's Basilica this Tuesday, his body adorned in red vestments with a rosary in hand and a bishop's mitre atop his head (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images) 'I saw the Queen lying in state in London and there was no comparison — this really detracted from the moment," added Gilsenan. Martin said: 'We were staying 100 miles from Rome when we heard he'd died and felt obligated to join the queue." "Francis was a great Pope and we admired him for changing the direction of the Church and shifting its appeal to young people," he said. 'It was sad to see such disrespectful behavior.' Mourners can visit and pay homage to him for three days, leading up to his internment this Saturday. (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images) Francis was laid to rest in St. Peter's Basilica this Tuesday, his body adorned in red vestments with a rosary in hand and a bishop's mitre atop his head. His final resting pose differed from past traditions, as he lay on the main altar of the grand basilica, instead of elevated aloft, fulfilling his wish for a humbler farewell ceremony aligned with his advocacy for a simple papacy, close to the plight of the needy. Mourners can visit and pay homage to him for three days, leading up to his internment this Saturday. A woman who came to honor him expressed her awe to journalists: "It gave me chills. He was important to me because he encouraged co-existence. He brought many people together." In the background, the Vatican's cardinals are discreetly making arrangements for the funeral and organizing the upcoming conclave, where 135 cardinals below 80 years of age will select the new pope, anticipated to be one of their own. The commencement of the conclave is slated for no earlier than May 5.
Irish Daily Star
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St. Peter's open all night for Pope Francis mourning due to overwhelming public turnout
The Vatican had to keep the doors of St. Peter's Basilica open throughout the night to accommodate the throngs of mourners who came to pay their respects to Pope Francis , whose body lay in a simple wooden coffin. The turnout was so overwhelming that the basilica only closed for an hour on Thursday morning for cleaning. A profound silence envelops the basilica as mourners from all corners of the world slowly make their way up the main aisle to bid their final farewells to Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday following a stroke. The long wait in line along the grand Via della Conciliazione, through St. Peter's Square and into the basilica has fostered a sense of community among the mourners, united by their admiration for the Argentine pontiff's legacy of inclusivity and humility. Read More Related Articles Donald Trump branded 'disgusting' as he honors Pope Francis in 'baffling' way Read More Related Articles 'Hideous' Trump hangs new self-portrait in White House next to his greatest political rival Emiliano Fernandez, a devout Catholic from Mexico, found himself still waiting in line around midnight after two hours. "I don't even care how much time I wait here. It's just the opportunity to (show) how I admired Francisco in his life,'' said Fernandez, whose respect for the pope deepened during his 2016 visit to Mexico. "I think because of the respect that I have for him and the great person he was, it's worth the wait." Faithful gather to pay their respects to Pope Francis inside St. Peter's Basilica (Image: Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) According to the latest figures released by the Vatican, over 20,000 people had paid their respects during the first 8 1⁄2 hours of public viewing on Wednesday. The basilica only closed briefly on Thursday morning, from 6 a.m. until 7 a.m., before resuming its regular opening hours. Among the early mourners was a group of 14 year old churchgoers from near Milan, who had journeyed for the now-postponed canonization of the first millennial saint. Also present was a woman seeking divine intervention for a successful surgery and an Italian family introducing their young children to the sight of the pope's body." We came because we didn't bring them when he was alive, so we thought we would bring them for a final farewell,'' shared Rosa Scorpati, exiting the basilica on Wednesday with her three tots in pushchairs. "They were good, but I don't think they really understood because they haven't yet had to deal with death." Like many others, the Scorpati clan from Calabria found themselves in Rome for an Easter break, only to be confronted with the news of Pope Francis' passing on Easter Monday. Faithful at St. Peter's Square (Image: Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Moved by their devotion to the pope and his message of inclusivity, the bereaved faithful joined the procession of mourners that snaked from St. Peter's Square through the basilica's Holy Door, with those seeking penance earning an indulgence, a form of atonement granted during the Jubilee Holy Year. The queue then extended down the basilica's central aisle to the pope's unadorned wooden casket. By late Wednesday, the wait time seemed to have ballooned to three or four hours and was still increasing. A crowd control official estimated the wait to be closer to five hours. The line of mourners stretched down the heart of Via della Conciliazione, within a lane reserved for Jubilee pilgrims. The body of Pope Francis is carried into St. Peter's Basilica (Image: Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) After three days of public viewing, a funeral Mass attended by heads of state will take place on Saturday in St. Peter's Square. The pope will subsequently be laid to rest in a niche within the St. Mary Major Basilica, close to his beloved Madonna icon. The passing of Pope Francis at 88 marks the end of a 12-year pontificate defined by his compassion for the impoverished and his inclusive message. However, his progressive stance drew criticism from some conservative quarters who felt sidelined. On Wednesday, a procession of priests, bishops, and cardinals escorted Francis' body from a private viewing inside the Vatican to St. Peter's Square. This ceremonial display contrasted with the more personal interactions of ordinary mourners at the public viewing. People queue to pay their respects (Image: LaPresse) Francis lay in state in an open casket, positioned on a ramp facing the mourners, with four Swiss Guards standing guard. As the crowd approached the casket, many raised their smartphones to capture a photograph. One nun, accompanying an elderly woman with a cane, walked away weeping, "My pope is gone.''Such despair was uncommon. The prevailing sentiment was one of gratitude for a pope who had, through his actions, taught many to broaden their perspectives." "I am very devoted to the pope,'' shared Ivenes Bianco, who was in Rome from Brindisi, Italy, for a surgery. "He was important to me because he brought many people together by encouraging coexistence.'' She highlighted Francis' acceptance of the gay community and his unwavering commitment to aiding the poor. A gull flies above people waiting (Image: Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Humbeline Coroy, who hails from Perpignan, France, initially came to Rome for the scheduled canonization of 15 year old Carlo Acutis on Sunday. However, following the pope's passing, she decided to stay and pay her respects to Francis. She found joy in interacting with Japanese mourners they encountered while waiting under the sun in St. Peter's Square. "For me, it is a lot of things. In my job, I work with disabled children, and I traveled to Madagascar to work with poor people. Being here, and close to the pope, is a way of integrating these experiences, and make them concrete,'' she expressed. People gather in St. Peter's Square (Image: Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Coroy also carried prayers for her father, who is battling cancer. For Alessandra Nardi, the pope's demise stirred memories of her dear uncle Luigi's death three years prior. Luigi used to phone her from St. Peter's Square when he attended Pope Francis' Mass. He "let me hear the bells toll. It was a beautiful thing." Riccardo Ojedea, a visitor from Colombia, shared that his two-hour wait in line to pay homage to the pope revealed to him the deep affection "humanity has for the pope.''"He left a very important legacy for everyone,'' he reflected, "to make this world happier. ''.
