Armenian Church marks Feast Day of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God

Armenian Apostolic Church is marking today the Feast Day of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God.
 
Tradition states that after the Ascension of Jesus, Mary Mother-of-God was cared for by the Apostle John and lived in Jerusalem a further 15 years. When she passed away all the apostles except Bartholomew, who was away at the time, conducted her funeral at a cave-like tomb in the Garden of Gethsemane. When Bartholomew returned he wished to see Mary one last time and convinced the Apostles to open the tomb. Upon opening it, Mary's body could not be found and angels' voices were heard for three days and nights.
 
They interpreted this as a sign that our Lord had assumed (taken up) His Mother into heaven as He had promised her. They found the empty tomb a confirmation of that promise for she had not been dead but had fallen asleep.
 
"The base of the feast is the victory over death. Jesus Christ showed there is no death for a Christian. The mission of Christians is not to die but live, live in eternity. Consequently, the feast has the symbol of life," Armenian church priest Yesayi Artenyan said, speaking to Tert.am.
 
On this feast the Blessing of the Grapes service is also being offered. The priest said the grape is being blessed as Jesus Christ gave a special significance to the grape, comparing himself with the vine. "If the branch is joined with vine it is being fed from vine and its fruit is grape. Any person connected with vine, that is Christ, will be fruitful," he said.
 
"On that day each person brings grape as gift to church. It is being blessed and distributed to poor. Today the picture is a little different. We are buying grape, bring it to the church, bless it and give to people. It would have been right if the people reach the consciousness and bring grape as gift to the church. Imagine, if each person brought some grapes how much would have been gathered and how many people would have got it," the priest said.   Read more... (362 words)

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