On Saturday, August 13th, 2022, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I presided over the solemn Divine Liturgy, celebrated by H.E. Archbishop Gomidas Ohanian at St. Mary Monastery in Bikfaya, marking the Pilgrimage Day of the namesake monastery.
Following the service, the pontifical procession ascended the altar to conduct the blessing of the grapes and madagh (sacrifice) ceremony, followed by the pontifical speech.
In his address, His Holiness shared his views on methods to reinvigorate religious and national among Armenians worldwide inherited through their cultural identity. He continued elaborating on the roles of the four main pillars of Armenian identity, specifically in the diasporan context: family, church, school and homeland, and underlined the imperative of finding balance between what has been passed-on throughout the centuries and present-day circumstances. Finally, His Holiness shed light upon the Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora trinity and emphasized the importance of mutual cooperation.
The ceremoniew ended with the faithful sharing in the common meal, the madagh, and the blessed grapes, as well as taking the blessed offerings to their elderly and ailing relatives, to extend the divine blessing of the pilgrimage
