The Assumption of the
Holy Mother
of God

The great feast in celebration of Saint Mary the Virgin, 

the Holy Mother of God - Soorp Asdvadzadzin will be 

celebrated on August 17, 2007.

 Verapokhoom

On the Feast of the Assumption

The story of the Assumption is beautifully narrated in the Armenian Orthodox hymn “From the Highest Heavens - Arevelk Kerarpi” (excerpt): 

After the Holy Mother of God lived in Jerusalem for 15 years, she died. All the Apostles, performed the funeral, except for Bartholomew which included a procession to bury the Holy Mother of God in the Garden of Gethsemane. After three days and nights of angelic voices at the tomb, Bartholomew arrived and desired to see the Holy Mother one last time. He pleaded with the Apostles to open the tomb...and they found it empty. They determined she had not died, but was awakened by the angelic voices and taken to heaven as Christ had promised.

It is for this reason that the Armenian Church calls the entombment of the Holy Mother of God the “Dormition - N’nchoom’n” which means to sleep. This doctrine of the Assumption was adopted by the Church by the ninth, but no later than the twelfth, century. It is one of the five major feast days (daghavar) of the Church, and comprises a week of fasting (navagadik) and a memorial day on the Monday which follows.

On the Blessing of Grapes
Relating the wine of the Holy Eucharist (Communion/the blood of Christ) and the concept of Christ being the “fruit of the womb”, as well as numerous other biblical references, the Church incorporated the blessing of grapes as the “first fruits of the harvest” in the celebration of the Assumption, and in thanksgiving to God.

 

At the Main Altar
Above is the icon or painting at the main altar of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Donated for the consecration of the Church in 1978 by Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Boghosian and Ruth, this icon typifies orthodox tradition, and in particular the style of Armenian manuscript illumination.

The image is a main-stay of Armenian Orthodox Church central altars which prescribes having the Christ child to the left and on the knee of the Holy Mother, serious in mien, enthroned, both richly robed and often crowned. Above the throne-posts on each side are the abbreviations in Armenian for “Asdvadzadzin - Mother of God” [left] and “Hisoos Christos - Jesus Christ”.

 

It is interesting to note that the first public prayer of the celebrant-priest during Divine Liturgy is in reference to the Holy Mother of God:

By the intercession of the Holy Mother of God, O Lord, receive our supplications and save us.

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Sunday Worship:

Morning Services - 9:30AM

Divine Liturgy - 10AM

[Requiem Services are not offered on this feast day.]