On Sunday August 14, 2022, The Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God was celebrated in all Western Prelacy Churches during which grapes were blessed. On this occasion H.G. Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Prelate, celebrated Divine Liturgy at St. Mary’s Armenian Church in Glendale, delivered his sermon and performed the blessing of water with the newly consecrated Muron and conducted the traditional blessing of the grape. During the Divine Liturgy, under the blessing of H.H. Aram I., Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, Bishop Donoyan granted Rev. Fr. Ardag Demirjian the title of Priesthood Seniority (Avakoutyoun.)
Archpriest Fr. Ardag Demirjian and Rev. Fr. Movses Shannakian served on the altar. In attendance were thousands of faithful, among them were members of the Executive Council, Board of Trustees, regional Delegates and representatives of community organizations. The faithful enthusiastically followed the ceremony of blessing the water and grapes, also listening to the message addressed by the Bishop, during which he accentuated the virtues of a Christian which is built on faith, hope and love. Also, emphasizing the role of the Mother of God, who stands as an intercessor to all the faithful.
Alluding to the story of the wedding feast of Cana in Galilee, the Bishop said: “With filial love, I ask our Heavenly Mother, the wine has run out in the life of our nation, intercede with your Son, Jesus Christ, to increase the wine in the life of our people, because since the Armenian Genocide in 1915, our people are in a state of hopelessness and only God can bring us out of our current darkness, provided that we open our eyes, hearts, ears and mouths and establish an inner connection with God through the intercession of Our Lady, so that, having received strength from Him, we can become stronger as one nation, one people, from Armenia-Artsakh and Diaspora.”
At the end of the Liturgy, the faithful received Holy Communion and blessed water and grapes, so that all families and communities will be renewed with the mystery of the Feast of Assumption, and as the Prelate stated, “By taking the water and grapes home, may the sick be healed, the weak be strengthened, and may faith, hope and love warm the lives of every Armenian, family and community.”
