On the Pilgrimage Day of St. Mary Monastery and Eve of the Feast of the Assumption of Virgin Mary, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I presided over the Divine Liturgy held on the open-air Altar of the Monastery, in Bikfaya. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the Prelate of Lebanon, H.E. Arch. Shahe Panossian.
During the Liturgy, the Pontifical Procession, led by the Catholicos, ascended the altar for the traditional ceremony of the Blessing of the Grapes and Madagh. The Catholicos conducted the ceremony, and subsequently, delivered the sermon.
His Holiness focused on three main themes: the necessity of prayer, the importance of education rooted in Christianity and national values, and the need for developing human resources. He emphasized the vital role of the family unit in instilling and preserving Christian, national, and traditional values in the younger generation, especially in the face of the challenges posed by the misuse of technology. Referring to the 2024 pontifical encyclical declaring the year as The Year of Human Resources Preparation, he underscored that the youth should build their capacities and actively engage in community work, which he described as the larger family.
The ceremonies concluded with the faithful sharing in the common meal: the Madagh, and the blessed grapes.
