A PILGRIMAGE TO ST. MARY’S MONASTERY

The Armenian Church celebrates the pilgrimage week of the St. Mary’s Monastery every year during the second week of the month of August. This year, the pilgrimage week was celebrated August 6 through 11, 2018 and it was concluded by the feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God.

 

Under the auspices of His Holiness Aram I, the Christian Education Department organized a week of special services, prayers and Bible studies. Every morning, the faithful gathered in the chapel of the Monastery for Bible Study, administered by the Cilician Brotherhood, and every evening for Divine Liturgy, celebrated by priests from the Prelacy of Lebanon.

 

According to the Armenian Church traditions, the blessing of the salt and sacrifice of the sheep took place on Friday morning, preparing for the Feast on the following day.

 

On Friday evening, August 10th, 2018, the Armenian Church, Catholicosate of Cilicia, celebrated the pilgrimage of St. Mary’s Monastery with a march from the St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias to St. Mary’s Monastery in Bikfaya. More than one thousand faithful reached the Monastery after around 5 hours and they were received by His Holiness Aram I, who gave them his pontifical blessing and delivered a short speech. His Holiness saluted the pilgrims and commended their participation in one of the most genuine expressions of faith in Christianity.

 

Following the pontifical speech, the faithful received the sacrament.

 

The preparations for the feast of the Assumption for the following day continued and many volunteers joined hands for it.