On Sunday, August 17, the faithful of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church gathered in great numbers to celebrate one of the most beloved feast days of the Armenian Church: the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin Mary. This sacred day, dedicated to the Mother of God, is one of the five major feasts of the Church and holds deep spiritual significance for the Armenian faithful.
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Fr. Nareg Terterian, Pastor, who in his sermon reflected on the important role of the Holy Virgin Mary in the life of the Church and in the personal spirituality of each believer. “In every prayer, she is present. In every hymn that we sing, we have a whole section that is devoted to her,” said Fr. Nareg. Drawing from the Gospel of John, he spoke of Mary as the “New Eve” who points the faithful to Christ: “At the wedding in Cana, when the wine ran out, Mary directed the people to listen to Jesus. And when they did, the first miracle was performed. Likewise, in our lives, if we listen to Him, miracles will follow.”
Fr. Nareg invited the congregation to learn from Mary’s example of treasuring all things in her heart, living not reactively but contemplatively: “Mary teaches us to hold Jesus in our arms and look at life from that perspective. Without God, without having the divine perspective in our lives, our life has no direction, it has no meaning.”
Following the Divine Liturgy, the traditional Blessing of the Grapes was conducted. This ancient rite, tied to the biblical practice of offering the first fruits to God, carries a unique symbolism in the Armenian Church. Fr. Nareg reminded the faithful, “We bless grapes because when they are pressed, they become wine. And it is wine that symbolizes the Blood of Christ. As we take home the sweet fruit that is blessed today, let us remember that there is something even sweeter—the love of Christ, who gives His life to us.”
After the blessings, the congregation gathered in the Pagoumian Hall for a joyous fellowship hour. There, the community partook in the traditional “Harrisa” meal, which was blessed and shared as a sign of unity, faith, and continuity with Armenian heritage. Harrisa, prepared with dedication by a handful of committed women in our community, has long been a symbol of communal resilience and thanksgiving in Armenian life.
The Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin Mary at St. Sarkis was thus not only a liturgical celebration but also a reaffirmation of faith, family, and tradition. On this occasion, the sacred and the communal came together in joy and gratitude.