Bible Readings for Sunday, August 16th
Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God
Song of Songs 4:9-15; 8:14; Isaiah 7:10-16; Galatians 3:29-4:7; Luke 2:1-7.
The Epistle Reading
Galatians 3:29-47
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.
My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property; but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
The Gospel Reading
Luke 2:1-7
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
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The Blessed Virgin Mary holds a high place in the Armenian Church, next to Christ. We begin our Divine Liturgy with these words, “Through the intercession of the holy Mother of God, O Lord, receive our supplications and save us.” In every Armenian Church the painting on the main altar is of Mary, holding the infant Savior. The Gospels teach us that Mary was blessed and called by God to fulfill God’s divine plan of salvation. Mary has a primary place of honor because through her and by the Holy Spirit God became incarnate, became human.
This Sunday, August 16, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of the Assumption (Verapokhoum) of the Holy Mother of God, the fourth of the five major feast days in our Liturgical Calendar. Verapokhoum in classical Armenian means “transport up.” According to tradition, when the Holy Mother died she was buried by the apostles in the Garden of Gethsemane. Bartholomew who was not present at her funeral wished to visit her grave. When the gravestone was lifted they were surprised to find that her body had disappeared. It was believed that Christ had come and taken his mother to the Heavenly Kingdom. Based on this event, the Church Fathers established the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is one of the five tabernacle feast days in the Armenian Church’s liturgical calendar. The feast is preceded by a week (five days) of fasting and followed by a memorial day.
Because Bartholomew was very fond of the Holy Mother, the apostle John gave him an image of her (which she had given to John). Bartholomew took this image with him to Armenia to Darbnots Kar in the province of Antsev, Vaspurakan (Western Armenia) where a convent for nuns, Hogyats Vank (Monastery of the Spirits), was built and where the icon was kept. Most depictions of Bartholomew show him holding this icon.
The concept of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is old as evidenced in sacred prose and poetry dedicated to the Holy Mother. However, it did not become a basic doctrine of the church until the ninth century and it was in the twelfth century that the feast was called “The Assumption.”
This Sunday is the name day for those named Mariam, Maro, Mary, Mari, Makrouhi, Mayrenie, Maroush, Serpouhi, Dirouhi, Takouhi, Lousig, Lousnag, Arousiag, Arpine, Markarid, Nazig, Azniv, Seta, Dzaghig, Verjin, Arshalouys.
Today the saints have gathered together, the blessed apostles and the holy virgins in bright garments with their lighted lamps and in unison they sang: Blessed are you, all-praised among women.
Today having placed the holy Virgin at the door of the tomb, they awaited the coming of the Lord himself. And behold, they saw on the heights the Creator coming with a multitude of angels; and in unison they began to sing in praise: Blessed are you, all-praised among women.
Today they saw the holy Virgin floating through the air and on the fiery chariot ascending into heaven with the wise virgins entering into the heavenly tabernacles; and in unison they sang in song: Blessed are you, all-praised among women.
Today, accompanied by the many-eyed cherubim and the six-winged seraphim you entered into the radiant tabernacles and saw the various thrones prepared for you, O Lady; with them we also sing: Blessed are you all-praised among women.
From Canon for the Assumption of the Mother of God, according to the Liturgical Canons of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
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The Blessing of the Grapes takes place on the Feast of the Assumption, although there is no connection between the two events. This ceremony is rooted in the Biblical tradition as commanded by God to the Israelites, through Moses, to donate the “first bearing of all their fruits, on the Tabernacle in order that with this first offering all fruits would receive Your blessing…” The hymn Park Sourp Khatchet (Glory to Your Sacred Cross) is sung; Biblical passages are recited, followed by a prayer composed by Catholicos Nerses Shnorhali specifically for this occasion. After the prayer, the grapes are blessed three times with the words Orhnestsee Bahbanestsee and then the blessed grapes are distributed to the faithful, many of whom have refrained from eating grapes until after this blessing.
Certainly we can say that the Blessing of the Grapes is a symbolic celebration of the fruitfulness of the earth. Grapes are one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world. Noah planted a vineyard immediately after disembarking from the Ark (Genesis, Chapter 9) in Nakhichevan, Armenia. And, of course, the wine of the Divine Liturgy comes from grapes.
Bless, O Lord, the grape plants and vineyards from which these grapes are taken and presented to the holy church, and make them bountiful and fruitful; let them be like good and fertile land, protect the vineyard from all kinds of misfortune and destruction which come from above because of our sins, from hail, from cold, from hot winds, and from destructive insects, so that we may enjoy that which You have created in this world for our enjoyment and for Your glory, and grant that we may be worthy to eat and drink with You from the bounty of Your most fruitful vine at the table of Your Father’s Kingdom, according to the just promise which You made, to the honor and glory of Your coexisting Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the most Holy Spirit to whom is due glory, power, and honor, now and forever. Amen. (From the prayer written by Catholicos Nerses Shnorhali for the Blessing of the Grapes).
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Tomorrow, Saturday, August 15, is the Feast of Shoghakat of Holy Etchmiadzin that is always observed on the Saturday prior to the Feast of the Assumption. Shoghakat refers to the vision of the rays of light seen by St. Gregory when God chose the site for the Mother Cathedral. The feast is celebrated at the time of Assumption because the Cathedral in Etchmiadzin is named in honor of the Holy Mother, although through the years it became known as Etchmiadzin. The name of St. Shoghakat was given to the church, according to tradition, because it was built where "the divine light had shed" (shogh gatadz er) on the Hripsimiants virgins.
The next time we see parishioners of Holy Virgin Mary & Shoghagat Armenian Church in Belleville, let us lovingly greet them and offer congratulations on the name day of their parish.
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On Tuesday, August 4, at 6:00 pm local time (11:00 am New York time) a huge explosion shook the entire city of Beirut, the shockwaves of which were felt as far away as Cyprus. The blast killed at least 135 people and injured more than 5,000. Words fail to describe the magnitude of this tragedy, which the Armenian community did not escape, with 11 dead and 250 injured at the latest count. The material damage to the city is enormous and unimaginable. The Catholicosate, churches, institutions, stores, residences have been damaged indiscriminately, without taking into account the psychological impact.
The Covid-19 health crisis that followed the social, political and financial crisis had already exhausted the Lebanese people. The scale of the current tragedy has now worsened the uncertainty reigning in the country.
This explosion not only shocked Lebanon, but the entire world. In view of this reality and in accordance with the patriarchal proclamation by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, the Armenian Prelacy of the Eastern United States has organized a fundraiser through the media of the Prelacy and the parishes to mitigate the unquantifiable material and emotional damage suffered by our brethren. We beg our kind faithful and generally the Armenian community to participate generously in this campaign of humanitarian aid.
Even though we are aware that at the local level we also face a financial crisis, we feel compelled to extend a helping hand to our compatriots who are enduring even greater pain than ours, in the certainty that God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).
All donations will be transferred via the Catholicosate to the special committee functioning under the sponsorship of the Armenian Prelacy of Lebanon
Please send your donation to the Armenian Prelacy, writing Lebanon Relief Fund in the memo section.
Visit www.ArmenianPrelacy.org/HelpLebanon to donate online.
ARCHBISHOP ANOUSHAVAN
Prelate, Eastern Prelacy of the United States
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Dear Fellow Brothers and Sisters,
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, a devastating explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, shocked the world, which rallied around a country that had been experiencing a severe socio-economic crisis for a year. Within this immense pain, we find comfort in goodness being alive in society: governments and individuals are reaching out to mitigate the unbearable anguish of those who are suffering due to the loss of their loved ones and their own injuries, and of those who are now displaced or have lost their jobs.
Upon the pontifical appeal of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, the Prelacy has launched a Lebanon Relief Fundraising. His Holiness has officially announced that a Central Coordinating Committee has been established with the participation of all Armenian denominations and organizations, and a special account has been created to be used primarily for humanitarian and other needs.
We are pleased to inform that, with the cooperation of our clergy and with the help of our generous donors, so far, we have raised $50,000 dollars, and the first transfer has been done today. In the interests of accountability, the list of donors will be published every Thursday on Crossroads. We will respect the wishes of the donors who would like to remain anonymous.
May God bless us and help us all in our Homeland, Artsakh, Diaspora, shower His mercy upon Mankind, and keep strong the Land of the Free.
Prayerfully,
Archbishop Anoushavan,
Prelate
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As your Prelate, I am humbled and touched by your overwhelming response to the appeal of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I to help our brethren in Beirut following the huge explosion that cost at least 200 lives and left thousands of injured. At the time of this writing, there are at least 13 Armenians among the casualties and 100 people are still missing. According to Lebanese government sources, at least 300,000 have been left homeless by the blast in the port of Beirut.
Tragedies test our mettle. As Armenians, we are sadly familiar with the tests history puts us through. That explains why Armenia and our Diaspora was among the first and most generous responders to the suffering in Lebanon, one of the dearest to our nation and which opened the doors to our survivors when Turkey put us on the brink of extinction in 1915. Now was the time to give back. And, I am moved to be witnessing it, we are, massively.
We all know how vital Lebanon is and has been for the Armenian nation. Throughout some of the toughest years of the civil war that broke out in 1975 and went on for fifteen years, it continued to churn out intellectuals, priests, writers, teachers, and books while keeping its vital, foundational community alive while bombs were raining down and families were crying so many losses and so much suffering, and rebuilding their schools, businesses, and their lives every day, in the hope and the certainty that better days would come. Even when besieged by an endless war, Beirut kept on giving, keeping our schools and churches and communities throughout the Diaspora alive.
It is no chance that the Holy See of Cilicia has established itself in Antelias. Since the Genocide, Lebanon has been the home away from home for every Armenian, even when fate has been as harsh on the Lebanese as it has been on the Armenians.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good,” (Romans 12:21). This time, the quote is not an appeal. It is, rather, a description of your generous actions in the face of the adversity our brethren in Lebanon are going through. It is, also, my way of thanking you, for I am a loss for words to do so.
Prayerfully,
Archbishop Anoushavan,
Prelate, Eastern Prelacy of the United States |
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That was the first statement by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia on Sunday, August 9, in the message he delivered at the Cathedral of the Holy See in Antelias. After the horrific explosion in Beirut on August 4, His Holiness expressed profound thoughts, after urging our people “to turn to God not only during trials and tribulations, but always.”
His Holiness remembered the hard days of the past, during the civil war of Lebanon, while he was prelate. “I have served our people often under rockets and walking through landmines, I’ve even been hurt by a bullet on my right hand. In those days I have also witnessed the damage caused by bombing. Nevertheless, what happened a few days ago was unprecedented: with its scope, its magnitude, and the victims and destruction it caused.”
While expressing his anger and emotion, wondering “why humans cause such criminal acts, intentionally or not,” His Holiness prayed that “God receive in the celestial kingdom the souls of the victims from our community and all of Lebanon” and that He “grant a quick recovery to all the injured.” Catholicos Aram reaffirmed that reconstruction “is the only open way before us, which we will walk together, hand in hand, heart to heart, with a profound faith, with strong will and a lively vision,” ensuring “that our church, our brotherhood and myself will walk with you and will do everything possible to help the Armenian community of Lebanon to heal its wounds, mitigate its pain and reestablish its pivotal place and role in the life of our nation”.
His Holiness also emphasized that “the strengthening of the Armenian community of Lebanon is the strengthening of Armenia and the Diaspora,” describing the traditional role the community has played in the life of the Diaspora and in the nation-building effort after Armenia regained its independence. He also expressed his gratitude for the wave of support and help coming Armenia and the Diaspora, as well as from non-Armenians. “The work of reconstruction of the Armenian community of Lebanon will be a collective, joint effort that will be carried out in a planned and consistent manner, with help from Armenia and the state of Artsakh and from every organization and individual of our nation.”
Catholicos Aram reaffirmed that “the Armenian community of Lebanon, yes, stands with the state, but it is against officials who draw illicit benefits from their public office.” In reference to the health, financial as well as social and political crisis that Lebanon has been facing for the last six months, His Holiness said that the last two crises were a consequence of an “irresponsible and dishonest conduct” by government officials, as well as a “lack of accountability and corruption.”
The Catholicos echoed the public’s discontent about the lack of accountability to savers about their bank deposits. “There is no acknowledgement of the wrongs committed against the people, and the individuals or organizations that misused the money of the people or managed it with negligence are not being held to account.”
He also repeated the question that is on everybody’s mind and mouth: “How can a massive amount of an explosive and toxic substance be kept without any precautions, even though it was well known how dangerous it was? What an immoral and reckless behavior is this? With what conscience do the individuals behind this terrible crime watch the dead, the injured, the destruction they caused?”
In recalling that the priest is an ambassador for Christ, in the words of the apostle (2 Corinthians 5:20), Catholicos Aram said: “I can’t be silent in the face of these crimes that afflict our people, destroy the economic life of our people and endanger its safety. A few days ago, the Lebanese president declared that Lebanese courts of justice will be open to everyone: we hope and expect it. Rest assured, however, that the Lebanese courts will not have enough room to admit all the defendants…”
He warned that “when the people resolutely take to the streets, the seats of officials that are mired in corruption begin to shake,” as the past and the present attest that “the people are not subjected to government officials, but the government officials are subject and accountable to the people that elected them and we are all subject to the laws of the country.” Hence, the Catholicos said, “we demand a rapid solution for the grave financial situation of Lebanon as well as that the people behind the blast in Beirut receive the maximum punishment.”
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If you would like to send a check for Lebanon Relief instead, please submit to St. Gregory Armenian Church and we will make sure the Armenian Prelacy receives your donation. Thank you.
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