August 21, 2014

Thousands of Faithful Celebrate the Holy Feast of Assumption of the Mother of God

On Saturday evening, 16 August, His Holiness Aram I presided over theHoly Liturgy celebrated in the open air by the Prelate of Lebanon, Bishop Shahe Panossian, and sung by the “Shenorhali” choir of the Catholicosate.

 

On the Feast of Assumption, the Armenian Church also blesses grapes, the fruit of the vine. Sixty two years ago, the Catholicosate of Cilicia declared the Feast of Assumption as a day of pilgrimage to St. Mary’s Church in Bikfaya. Since then, pilgrims start arriving in Bikfaya on Friday evening, bringing with them not only their prayers and supplications, but also offerings, which are blessed during the Liturgy and shared with the people along with the blessed grapes.

 

This year the Holy Liturgy of Assumption was special because it was celebrated on the newly erected altar dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Martyrs of the Genocide. At the end of the Liturgy, with the Holy Muron (Oil), His Holiness Aram I anointed the altar, the Mother and Child sculpture on the altar and the two altars on each side dedicated to St. Gregory the Illuminator, the “Father of our Faith,” and St. Mesrob Mashdotz, “the founder of our alphabet.” He then delivered his message, saying, “Pilgrimage means being on the journey towards Salvation. The road to Salvation is difficult because of the burden of sin we carry with us. We make this journey with the understanding that the Son of God suffered in order to save us from our sins and make us children of God.” He then continued, “Today you have come as pilgrims to pray to God and ask the Mother of God to intercede with His Son and grant His Mercy to each of us. I join you and pray that God bestows upon us His Grace, protects our people from all evil and restores justice and peace in the Middle East.”

 

At the end of his message Catholicos Aram I announced that the monastery in Bikfaya had been renovated and as of this day it will be known as “St. Mary’s Monastery in Lebanon.” In recognition of itsbenefactors, His Holinesss Aram I decorated Mr. and Mrs. Karnik and Anahid Yacoubian with the insignia of “Prince of Cilicia” and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur and Tamar Nazarian with the insignia of “Knight of Cilicia”.

 

The pilgrimage ended with the faithful sharing a common meal prepared from their blessed offerings and the grapes in memory of the Martyrs.  

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