Feast Of The Assumption At St. Leon Armenian Cathedral

The Armenian Apostolic Church observed the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God on Sunday, August 14, 2016. Thousands of faithful flocked St. Leon Armenian Cathedral to take part in the episcopal celebration of the Divine Liturgy on the tabernacle feast. The day's celebrant was the Diocesan Primate His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.

Archbishop Derderian was assisted at the Holy Altar by the Rev. Fr. Khajag Shahbazyan and the Cathedral's deacons. Archpriest Fr. Sipan Mekhsian and the Rev. Fr. Mikayel Kyureghyan participated in the service.

In his homily, the Primate reflected on the significance of the tabernacle feast. "The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary deepens in our spirituality a special message, so that we may live a life of humility, with faithfulness and total dedication to God. And we are the bearers of the divine gifts and the calling. The gifts graced upon us by the Almighty God should be share and we in turn, need to respond to God's call with courage." 

The traditional Blessing of the Grapes ceremony was performed during the service after which the blessed grapes were distributed to the faithful.