Khavaroom (Betrayal) Service in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On Holy Thursday, following the evening Liturgy in all churches the service of Khavaroom is offered to symbolize the prayer of Christ in Gethsemane, betrayal, arrest, tortures, the denial and repentance of Peter and later on the crucifixion of the Lord. After reading every Gospel story, the priest one after another puts off the candles symbolizing the disciples to denote how they one by one left Jesus. The only candle left burning is the central one symbolizing Jesus.