Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God
To all Jarakite readers, I’d like to tell you about the Feast of the Virgin Mary. We celebrated this feast day here in an old Armenian traditional way. The Armenian traditions involved with this feast have been passed down through many generations.
Some of these traditions are still carried out with Armenians living in the Middle East, but here in United States or in Europe the practice is declining. The main focus on this special Sunday is to celebrate the feast of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ the Lord, who through Her, our Savior is born. The grape blessing is the symbol of when Jesus compares the Christian faith to the grape vine…wine is made from grapes, which symbolizes the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, in the Middle East where I grew up, we had a church in the center of the city of Baghdad, and people would walk miles to that church, some even bare foot. The walk is similar to when you fast during Lent or when you hold a special prayer in your heart that you want answered. It is a pilgrimage from your own home to God’s home, where we meet other family member and faithful Christian friends. I believe it to be a test of how much you can endure your faith. This tradition started when the combustion engine, a.k.a. the car, hadn’t been invented yet, so people walked everywhere. On Saturday morning, August 15th, I walked with some of the other ladies from our church, from 56th Street & Cactus to Church which is approximately 4 miles. We took a short break at the Greek Church on Cactus where we went inside, lit a few candles, said a short prayer, and met a few more people including Der Hayr to continue our walk to Church. Following this pilgrimage, the tradition is to stay up all night in the church reciting prayers, hymns or reading the bible and praying. We actually had a few ladies, including myself, spend the night in our Church Saturday night!! It was a very spiritual experience for all that took part in this old tradition.
In the morning, we celebrated Divine Liturgy in our new St. Apkar Church, blessed the grapes, and then had a luncheon in our hall where we ate Madagh, which is lamb meat. After our walk, the Ladies Society prepared the Grapes and Lamb for the Sunday Blessing, which was donated by the ever so generous Armenian families (see below). The Lamb was brought fresh from a nearby farm in Phoenix. Lamb is a favorite of amongst Armenians since Lamb is mentioned numerous times in the bible, mostly in the old testament, as a symbol of sacrifice. All seemed to enjoy the fellowship as approximately 300 people attended!
I’m proud to be an Armenian: go to church, eat tasty food, love one other. It is these simple pleasures that gives one peace in their heart. For those who want to walk (my favorite tradition), see me next year…until then, God Bless you all & see you next Sunday.
by May Sotiri
Madagh Donations
Vahe & Nazik Awakim ~ Sarkes & Shenorig Mkrdichian
~ Luciek Mkrdichian ~ Mr. & Mrs. Babayan ~
John & Houry Dikranian ~ Arzo & Mary Sayadian ~
Mr & Mrs Bedros Touresian ~ Steve & Mariam
Ovanessoff ~ Raffi & Sevo Hagopian ~ Anno &
Nazar Jargis ~ Seranoosh Megurdichian ~ Eto
Coulandreau ~ Coharig Ohanian ~ Denis & Yeran
Odisho ~ Sirpouhi Kargosian ~ Ovsanna Neshanian
~ Alex & Helen Abdoian ~ Dr & Mrs Vasken
Artounian ~ Kohar Markarian ~ Anahied Mikaelian
~ Emma Melikian in memory of Samson and Maria
Ordjanian and the Ordjanian Family ~ Laura Gorgorian
~ Dr Raffy and Mrs Mary Safarian ~ Berge &
Doreen Kaprelian ~ Mr. & Mrs Chakmakjian ~ Dr
Thaddeus and Mrs. Khachaturian ~ Ruth Blake ~
Julia Karam ~ Mr and Mrs Hayk Nigogosian ~ Ani
Alexanian Please forgive us if we missed any names.
Grape Donations
Emma Melikian, in Loving memory of Armenouhi (Grandma) Melikian ~ Mr and Mrs Nigogosian ~ Khachaturian Family ~ Dr Harry Demirgian ~ Ruth Blake ~ Mr. & Mrs. Babayan ~ Mr. & Mrs. Abdoian ~ Mr. & Mrs. Badaian ~ Shake Barsamian ~ Sylva Sotiri ~ May Sotiri ~ Suzana Vartanian ~ Angel Zarasian ~ Berj & Doreen Kaprelian. Please forgive us if we missed any names.
Vahe & Nazik Awakim ~ Sarkes & Shenorig Mkrdichian
~ Luciek Mkrdichian ~ Mr. & Mrs. Babayan ~
John & Houry Dikranian ~ Arzo & Mary Sayadian ~
Mr & Mrs Bedros Touresian ~ Steve & Mariam
Ovanessoff ~ Raffi & Sevo Hagopian ~ Anno &
Nazar Jargis ~ Seranoosh Megurdichian ~ Eto
Coulandreau ~ Coharig Ohanian ~ Denis & Yeran
Odisho ~ Sirpouhi Kargosian ~ Ovsanna Neshanian
~ Alex & Helen Abdoian ~ Dr & Mrs Vasken
Artounian ~ Kohar Markarian ~ Anahied Mikaelian
~ Emma Melikian in memory of Samson and Maria
Ordjanian and the Ordjanian Family ~ Laura Gorgorian
~ Dr Raffy and Mrs Mary Safarian ~ Berge &
Doreen Kaprelian ~ Mr. & Mrs Chakmakjian ~ Dr
Thaddeus and Mrs. Khachaturian ~ Ruth Blake ~
Julia Karam ~ Mr and Mrshayk Nigogosian ~ Ani
Alexanian Please forgive us if we missed any names.
Grape Donations
Emma Melikian, in Loving memory of Armenouhi (Grandma) Melikian ~ Mr and Mrs Nigogosian ~ Khachaturian Family ~ Dr Harry Demirgian ~ Ruth Blake ~ Mr. & Mrs. Babayan ~ Mr. & Mrs. Abdoian ~ Mr. & Mrs. Badaian ~ Shake Barsamian ~ Sylva Sotiri ~ May Sotiri ~ Suzana Vartanian ~ Angel Zarasian ~ Berj & Doreen Kaprelian. Please forgive us if we missed any names.
