On Friday afternoon, August 15, 2025, H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the United States, accompanied with clergy, visited the Armenian Ararat Home for the Elderly in Mission Hills on the occasion of the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God. Through prayers and words of blessing, the Prelate uplifted the spirits of the Armenian elders, reminding them that they are the foundation for passing down Armenian spiritual and religious traditions from generation to generation and ensuring their preservation as enduring national values. The ceremony, enriched by the solemn hymns of the clergy, concluded with the Blessing of the Grapes.
The residents of Ararat Home followed the service with reverence and attentiveness, listening to the Prelate’s reflections on the spiritual meaning of the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God, the symbolism of the blessing of the grapes, the significance and healing properties of the blessed grape, which was regarded as the royal fruit in ancient Armenia. H.E. Archbishop Khacherian noted that for the Armenian people and especially for the elderly, the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God, the spiritual mother of all humanity, is a source of spiritual nourishment and comfort, a profound celebration of communion with the Kingdom of Heaven. The Prelate then warmly invited the residents to share their own reflections and memories.
Many of the Ararat Home residents expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Armenian Apostolic Church and its clergy, often recalling cherished moments and memories from their past.
The visit concluded with the Prelate offering his blessings to both the residents and the staff of Ararat Home, imparting prayers for their health, strength, and longevity.
