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PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.cathcil.org/
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
ASSUMPTION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD; THE BLESSING OF THE GRAPES
Antelias, Lebanon - On August 15 all the Armenian Churches in the world
celebrate the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God (Verapokhoum). Although
in modern Armenian Verapokhoum means change again, in Classical Armenian it
means transport up. For fifteen years after the Crucifixion Mary remained in
Jerusalem under the watchful eyes of the apostles, especially John to whom
she had been entrusted. When she died all of the apostles were present at
her burial, except Bartholomew. When he returned to Jerusalem he went to her
grave to pay his respects. The apostles gathered in the cemetery, but when
the gravestone was lifted, they were surprised to find that her body was not
there, instead there was an exceeding sweet fragrance. It was believed that
Mary was physically taken into heaven. Based on this the church fathers
established the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Blessing of the Grapes, although not connected with the Assumption, is
generally commemorated on the same day. First the special hymn of the day is
sung, then passages from the Gospel are read, after which the prayer
pertaining to the blessing of grapes, which was composed by Catholicos
Nerses is read. In this prayer it is mentioned that on the third day of
Creation, God created the fruit-yielding trees and vegetation on earth. The
prayer seeks the blessing of God to be bestowed on those who give the first
yield of their vineyards as gifts to the church, and asks the Lord to
protect the crops and gardens from harm. After the prayers, the grapes are
blessed and distributed to the congregation.
On Saturday 14 August 2004, The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia celebrated
the feast of the Holy Virgin Mary's Assumption. The Catholicosate also
celebrated the pilgrimage day of St. Mary's Armenian Monastery in Bikfaya,
Lebanon, site of the summer residence of the Catholicos, and also site of
the Seminary. A celebration dating from 1952, when the Chapel was
consecrated in the name of St. Mary.
Since the first year of his Pontificate (1995), His Holiness Aram I has
emphasized the importance of the feast as a special day of spiritual
renewal, and especially the pilgrimage day as the day of the youth. This
year, along with thousands of faithful, youths from many of the Armenian
youth organizations walked from Antelias to Bikfaya as pilgrims of St.
Mary's Monastery, where they joined His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of
Cilicia, who presided over the ceremony.
Thousands of people attended the Divine Liturgy which was celebrated in the
courtyard of the monastery. His Holiness delivered his pontifical message to
the faithful. This year His Holiness focused his message on the importance
of family. "Family is the basis of society. I cannot imagine, spiritually
and morally healthy society, without the family. I cannot imagine an
organized and credible society without the family. Indeed the family remains
an important point of reference, in any society. That is why we as
Catholicos declared this year as the Year of Family. We consider the family,
in a sense, the extension of the church, of the school, of our homeland. It
is in and through the family that the foundation of Christian formation and
Armenian education is laid down. Therefore a crucial role is given to the
Armenian family. It is called to preserve and promote our Armenian Christian
values and tradition in the context of a world which constantly question the
credibility and relevance of spiritual and moral values. We must, therefore,
preserve the integrity; the credibility of the Armenian Family" said His
Holiness.
Following the Divine Liturgy, the ceremony of blessing of grapes and Madagh
took place headed by His Holiness Aram I.
##
View printable pictures here:
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Pictures10.htm#bm top
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Pictures10.htm# 2
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Pictures11.htm#bm top
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Pictures11.htm# 2
***********
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, http://www.cathcil.org/ The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.cathcil.org/
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
ASSUMPTION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD; THE BLESSING OF THE GRAPES
Antelias, Lebanon - On August 15 all the Armenian Churches in the world
celebrate the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God (Verapokhoum). Although
in modern Armenian Verapokhoum means change again, in Classical Armenian it
means transport up. For fifteen years after the Crucifixion Mary remained in
Jerusalem under the watchful eyes of the apostles, especially John to whom
she had been entrusted. When she died all of the apostles were present at
her burial, except Bartholomew. When he returned to Jerusalem he went to her
grave to pay his respects. The apostles gathered in the cemetery, but when
the gravestone was lifted, they were surprised to find that her body was not
there, instead there was an exceeding sweet fragrance. It was believed that
Mary was physically taken into heaven. Based on this the church fathers
established the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Blessing of the Grapes, although not connected with the Assumption, is
generally commemorated on the same day. First the special hymn of the day is
sung, then passages from the Gospel are read, after which the prayer
pertaining to the blessing of grapes, which was composed by Catholicos
Nerses is read. In this prayer it is mentioned that on the third day of
Creation, God created the fruit-yielding trees and vegetation on earth. The
prayer seeks the blessing of God to be bestowed on those who give the first
yield of their vineyards as gifts to the church, and asks the Lord to
protect the crops and gardens from harm. After the prayers, the grapes are
blessed and distributed to the congregation.
On Saturday 14 August 2004, The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia celebrated
the feast of the Holy Virgin Mary's Assumption. The Catholicosate also
celebrated the pilgrimage day of St. Mary's Armenian Monastery in Bikfaya,
Lebanon, site of the summer residence of the Catholicos, and also site of
the Seminary. A celebration dating from 1952, when the Chapel was
consecrated in the name of St. Mary.
Since the first year of his Pontificate (1995), His Holiness Aram I has
emphasized the importance of the feast as a special day of spiritual
renewal, and especially the pilgrimage day as the day of the youth. This
year, along with thousands of faithful, youths from many of the Armenian
youth organizations walked from Antelias to Bikfaya as pilgrims of St.
Mary's Monastery, where they joined His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of
Cilicia, who presided over the ceremony.
Thousands of people attended the Divine Liturgy which was celebrated in the
courtyard of the monastery. His Holiness delivered his pontifical message to
the faithful. This year His Holiness focused his message on the importance
of family. "Family is the basis of society. I cannot imagine, spiritually
and morally healthy society, without the family. I cannot imagine an
organized and credible society without the family. Indeed the family remains
an important point of reference, in any society. That is why we as
Catholicos declared this year as the Year of Family. We consider the family,
in a sense, the extension of the church, of the school, of our homeland. It
is in and through the family that the foundation of Christian formation and
Armenian education is laid down. Therefore a crucial role is given to the
Armenian family. It is called to preserve and promote our Armenian Christian
values and tradition in the context of a world which constantly question the
credibility and relevance of spiritual and moral values. We must, therefore,
preserve the integrity; the credibility of the Armenian Family" said His
Holiness.
Following the Divine Liturgy, the ceremony of blessing of grapes and Madagh
took place headed by His Holiness Aram I.
##
View printable pictures here:
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Pictures10.htm#bm top
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Pictures10.htm# 2
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Pictures11.htm#bm top
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Pictures11.htm# 2
***********
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, http://www.cathcil.org/ The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.