ECHMIDZIN — On August 18, Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, attended the Divine Liturgy in Gayane Monastery. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the Director of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan.
Presenting the symbol of the feast, the liturgy particularly emphasized: “The Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God is one of the feasts and pavilions of the Armenian Church and is central to our Christian faith. First, this is the first resurrection of our mortals since the miraculous Resurrection of our Savior. The resurrection of the Virgin and the transformation of the heavens was made in the likeness of the Resurrection and ascension of the Virgin. And just as Jesus was resurrected in the sealed tomb three days later and ascended days later, he stopped in each of the nine classes of angels, so also the Lady resurrected on the third day, leaving the tombs, and standing in the nine classes of angels with the Savior, ascended to heaven. That is why the Feast of the Transfiguration is celebrated in the Armenian Church for nine days. ”
Mirzakhanyan also noted that the sacred story of the Transfiguration is of unique educational significance in family life, in the relationships of parents and children, conveying maternal love and caring, faithfulness and holiness, responsibility, gratitude, and humility.
He also touched upon the significance and tradition of the Blessing of the Church in the Armenian Church, noting in particular: “Jesus is presented in the Gospel as a vine, and the wine as the blood of the Lord for the council of the Holy Communion. Today, the fields and orchards are blessed for abundant productivity. And again, Glory to the Father of our faith, Gregory the Illuminator, who united and blended folk traditions and customs on religious holidays, making them national festivals, such as Ascension, Zangyulum, Transfiguration, Vardavar, and today the Blessing of Grapes. ”
In the end, the catholicos urged the faithful to pray and kindly ask God to keep the Armenian world in peace and prosperity, giving the Armenian people infinite love and kindness for one another, Mariam Astvatsatsin Cathedral and Cathedral of the Virgin Mary continue to intercede and sponsor the Armenian World Of the Church and of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin.
