BLESSING OF GRAPES CEREMONY IN ANTELIAS

On Sunday, August 14th, 2022, the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was celebrated at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. H.G. Bishop Magar Ashkarian celebrated the Divine Liturgy and conducted the blessing of the grape ceremony.

 

Bishop Magar also offered his sermon on the occasion of the feast and cited the Song of Songs 4:12 “You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain,” stating that we might sometimes fall short of courage in our struggles, but we should keep our trust in the Lord since only He sees what is hidden inside of us: the graces of the Holy Spirit.

 

It is noteworthy that the Armenian Church commemorates the memory of the deceased on the Monday following the five major feasts with a Divine Liturgy. As such, on August 15th, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated in all churches followed by a requiem service.