The Feast of the Assumption was celebrated at St. Leon
Armenian Cathedral on Sunday, August 16th beginning with a Morning Prayer
Service at 9:30 a.m. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian
Church of North America.
Nearly 1,500 faithful participated in the observance of
the Tabernacle Feast.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were Mr. Ara
Abrahamyan, former president of the Union of Armenians of Russia, UNESCO's
Goodwill Ambassador, and the President of the World Armenian Congress, with his
spouse and Dr. Aramayis Paronyan and his spouse Dr. Natella
Lalabekyan-Paronyan, Pillars of the Western Diocese, the Honorable Ardy
Kassakhian, Clerk of the City of Glendale.
In his homily, the Primate said "the Feast of the
Assumption of the Holy Mother of God is one of the most beloved feasts observed
by the Armenian Apostolic Church. Today we celebrate and venerate St. Mary, the
humble figure who bore the Son of God and graciously answered to God's call
with the utmost humility. Because of her courage and unshakable faith, St. Mary
serves as the exemplary figure to all mothers who in turn ought to lead their
children toward God and the Church."
At the conclusion of the service, the Primate,
accompanied by the Cathedral's Pastor the Rev. Fr. Khajag Shahbazyan performed
the traditional Blessing of the Grapes ceremony.
The blessed grapes were distributed to the faithful and
more than a thousand faithful received Holy Communion.
About the Feast of the Assumption
Assumption comprises a week of fasting, Navagadik, and a
Memorial Day. In the early centuries, the observance took place over the course
of three days; but as arranged by Shnorhali, it was extended to nine days.
The tradition concerning the dormition of the Holy Mother
did not become a basic teaching (doctrine) of the church until the 9th century;
and it wasn't until the 12th century that the feast was titled "the
Assumption." It commemorates how St. Mary was taken up in body and soul,
or “assumed,” into heaven. This was performed by Christ many years after His
Ascension as a loving tribute to the mother who bore and raised him.
On this feast day, the Blessing of Grapes service takes
place immediately after the Divine Liturgy. The service is rich in symbolism
and emphasizes the important role of the Virgin Mary in the revelation of God.
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