Dear Parishioners & Friends of St. Gregory the Illuminator Parish,
On Sunday, August 14, 2011, we will celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God. On this day, following the joyous Divine Liturgy and Blessing of Grapes ceremony, our parish's annual Blessing of the Grapes Picnic will take place at the St. Gregory Community Center, from 12:30 to 3:30 PM.
From the earliest of days, the Armenian people have held a special place in their hearts for the Holy Mother and Virgin, and have afforded her glorious and awe-inspiring Assumption by her son, Jesus, a place of high honor and celebrity in their religious and national life. On that day, we bless grapes (an abundant fruit of the Armenian homeland) and offer them to God has the first sacrifice of the bountiful harvest he has provided us with.
And much like the human race gave as a gift to God the best it had to offer -- the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the same way, we Armenians offer grapes annually as a thanksgiving offering to God, because historically they have been the best we have to offer! This should also make us think as individuals about what good things -- the best -- in our own lives we have to offer to God.
The festival we are preparing for August 14 is a time-honored and meaningful tradition, that our forefathers and ancestors passed down with great joy and solemnity. Let's do our part to make this year's celebration of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God and Blessing of Grapes a wonderful and memorable event in each of our lives.
Prayerfully,
Fr. Stephan Baljian
