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On Sunday, August 16, 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. One of the five major feasts of the Armenian Church, the Assumption honors the Mother of God and her unique place in the life of the Church and in the spiritual journey of every Christian.
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Fr. Nareg Terterian, Pastor of St. Sarkis Church, who reflected in his sermon on the Holy Virgin Mary as the one who gives humanity the greatest gift of all: Jesus Christ. Beginning with a personal childhood memory of receiving a meaningful toy from a family friend, Fr. Nareg observed that certain gifts remain forever connected to the person who gave them. In the same way, he explained, the Church remembers and magnifies Mary because through her faith and obedience she brings Christ, the gift of salvation, to the world. “Mary is the one who gives us a gift,” he said. “And that gift is far more valuable… The gift that she brings to us is the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Reflecting on the Annunciation and Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, Fr. Nareg emphasized Mary’s openness to the Holy Spirit and her willingness to say “yes” to God not simply in words but throughout her life. He contrasted this with a culture that often seeks recognition, visibility, and praise without embracing the sacrifice and perseverance that genuine faithfulness requires. Mary, he explained, becomes a model precisely because her “yes” to God was lived through difficulty, uncertainty, and suffering.
Fr. Nareg also drew attention to the rich Marian tradition of the Armenian Church, noting that more than eighty sharagans, or hymns, are dedicated to the Holy Virgin. He reflected particularly on the image of Mary as the “reasonable vine” who bears the sweetest fruit, Christ, whose sweetness heals the bitterness brought into human life through sin. This image, he explained, also illuminates the tradition of blessing grapes on the Feast of the Assumption: grapes become wine, and wine is offered in the Divine Liturgy as the Blood of the New Covenant.
The sermon concluded with an invitation to move from receiving to giving. Just as Mary offered Christ to the world, and just as the first fruits are offered back to God in thanksgiving, Christians are called to ask themselves what gifts they are offering to others. In a culture that continually encourages people to consume and accumulate, Fr. Nareg reminded the congregation that lasting joy is found instead in generosity: in learning to give, to share, and to offer one’s gifts for the good of others.
Following the Divine Liturgy, the congregation participated in the traditional Blessing of the Grapes, one of the most cherished traditions associated with the Feast of the Assumption. Rooted in the biblical practice of offering the first fruits of the harvest to God, the blessing reminds the faithful that everything they possess is ultimately a gift from Him.
The grape also carries a particularly meaningful Christian symbolism. When pressed, grapes become wine, which in the Holy Eucharist becomes for the faithful the Blood of Christ. Through the blessing, the Church therefore connects the fruits of creation with thanksgiving, sacrifice, and the life-giving presence of Christ.
Following the blessing, parishioners gathered in Main Hall for a joyful fellowship hour and shared the traditional harrisa meal. Prepared with love and dedication by members of the parish community, harrisa has long held a special place in Armenian life as a symbol of perseverance, thanksgiving, and communal unity.
The celebration of the Feast of the Assumption at St. Sarkis brought together the richness of Armenian Christian worship and the warmth of parish fellowship. Through the Divine Liturgy, the Blessing of the Grapes, and the sharing of a traditional meal, the community once again celebrated its faith and heritage while giving thanks to God for His abundant blessings.