The censer is a small vessel for burning incense used during the Divine Liturgy. When used as a stationary fixture, it is called khnganotz, and when moving, bourvar. The censer has a burner called karooytz, which is attached to three chains and held together by a ring. The deacon places a small amount of fire in the thurible, overlaid with incense, which burns as it swings back and forth. Censing symbolizes purification. During the assembly of the Soorp Badarak, the curtain of the altar is drawn and the celebrant, altar servers, and deacons form a procession and go to each member of the congregation. The principal server with the censer is the deacon. Emerging from the baptistery, he censes the chancel, moving from left to right. Next, he censes the people beginning at the center entrance of the chapel. The choir sings the Hymn of Censing and the congregation stands. When the celebrant passes by, censing, the faithful make the sign of the cross and say: "Remember us also before the immortal Lamb of God." The celebrant responds: "Ye shall be remembered before the immortal Lamb of God."
Historically, the Armenian Church did not use musical instruments other than the voice. Having said this, the organ is sometimes used today because of Western influence and for the fact that its timbre is thought to be similar to the human voice. According to theology, hymns must praise and glorify God, which instruments are not thought to be capable of doing. Therefore, the church position on them is that they should be used sparingly and only to assist in the appropriate rendition of vocal music.
| Wine-bearer, brighten our cup with the light of wine, |
Soqi, ba nuri boda barafrûz jomi mo, |
| Songstress, say what we accomplished that was longed for in this world
| Mutrib, bigû, ki kori jahon shud ba komi mo. |
| O, he who knows not our eternal enjoyment of wine,
| Mo dar piyâla aksi ruxi yâr didayem, |
| In the winecup, we saw reflected the face of the beloved!
| Ey bexabar zi lazzati shurbi mudomi mo! |
| Eternal is the one whose heart lives love,
| Hargiz namirad on, ki dilash zinda shud ba ishq, |
| Our eternal existence is written in the Book of the World.
| Sabt ast bar jaridayi alam davomi mo. |
| How much coquetry from the shapely beauties
| Chandon buvad karashmavu nozi sihiqadon |
| Would it take to arouse our cypress-figured one?
| K-oyad ba jilva sarvi sanavbarxiromi mo. |
| O, wind, if you pass through the friendly blossoms,
| Ey bod, agar ba gulshani ahbob bigzari, |
| Don't fail to give our message to the beloved.
| Zinhor arza deh bari janon payâmi mo. |
| Intoxication is good in the eye of out beloved.
| Mastî ba chashmi shohidi dilbandi mo xush ast, |
| And so our fate was dedicated to intoxication.
| Z-on rû supurdaand ba mastî zimomi mo. |
| A tulip stole my heart away like a cypress tree,
| Bigrift hamchu lola dilam dar havoyi sarv, |
| O, bird of fortune, when, at last, will we tame you?
| Ey murghi baxt, kay shavi oxir tu romi mo? |
| Hafiz, scatter the seeds of tears from your eyes,
| Hafiz, zi dida donayi ashke hamefishon, |
| May the bird of fate be lured by the bait.
| Boshad, ki murghi vasl kunad qasdi domi mo. |