The Prelate Celebrates Divine Liturgy, Delivers The Sermon, And
Performs The Blessing Of The Grapes And Madagh
At St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church In Glendale
On Sunday morning, August 16, 2026, throughout all the churches of the Western Prelacy, Divine Liturgy, hymns, and prayers resounded in celebration of the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin Mary into heaven. Through these sacred services, the faithful glorified the blessed Holy Virgin Mother of God, one of the most beloved figures of the Armenian people, the Bride of Heaven and the cherished intercessor of the Armenian Christian faithful.
On this joyous occasion, H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the United States, celebrated Divine Liturgy, delivered the sermon, and performed the traditional Blessing of the Grapes at St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Glendale. At the conclusion of his sermon, the Prelate congratulated the church community on the occasion of its Name Day and extended his fatherly blessings and well wishes to the entire St. Mary’s family. Serving at the Holy Altar were the clergy of the church, assisted by the deacons and scribes, with the participation of the church choir.
In his sermon, the Prelate noted that the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God is one of the five major feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Church. He explained that the tradition of the Assumption has been handed down through the account of St. Bartholomew, Apostle of Armenia. According to tradition, St. Bartholomew was away and unable to attend the burial of the Mother of Jesus, which had already taken place in the presence of the other Apostles. Upon arriving at the burial site several days later, St. Bartholomew expressed his desire to see the face of the Holy Virgin Mary one final time.
Accompanied by the other Apostles, the tomb was opened, but they found it empty. “The tomb was empty, and suddenly a voice from heaven proclaimed that the Son, Jesus Christ, had come with the angels and taken His Mother into heaven,” the Prelate stated. Archbishop Khacherian continued, “This shows us that the feast dedicated to the Mother of God is the celebration of the Holy Virgin Mary’s assumption into heaven and the honor bestowed upon her by heaven.”
“The Holy Trinity crowned the Mother of God as Queen of Heaven,” Archbishop Khacherian observed. Reflecting upon this profound honor, the Prelate explained that the Virgin Mary was deemed worthy of such distinction not by chance, but because of her virtues and, most especially, her unwavering faith in and obedience to the will of God. He emphasized that obedience to God is among the fundamental principles of the commandments given to humanity, noting that “God does not favor disobedience.” The Prelate further expanded upon this message by drawing examples from both the Old and New Testaments.
At the conclusion of his sermon, the Prelate offered a prayerful invocation to the Holy Virgin, asking her to continually intercede with maternal love before her Son, Jesus Christ, and to present before Him our petitions and requests, our prayers and pleas, entrusting them to the divine mercy and attention of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Following the Divine Liturgy, the Prelate performed the traditional Blessing of the Grapes and, on the occasion of the Name Day of St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church, blessed the harissa prepared as madagh. He then explained the spiritual significance of the Blessing of the Grapes and the tradition of madagh, both of which hold a cherished place within the life and traditions of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Archbishop Khacherian encouraged all those present to continue preserving, with unwavering faith and devotion, the rich history and traditions of the Armenian people, as well as the spiritual and national heritage, sacred feasts, traditions, and enduring values of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
