FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD
SYNAXIS READINGS SONGS 4:9-15; IS. 7:10-16; GAL. 3:29-4:7;LUKE 2:1-7
Morning Service at 9:30 am
Divine Liturgy at 10:30 am
Celebrated by:
REV. ARCHPRIEST FR. ZAREH ZARGARIAN
Vicar and Parish Priest
Choirmaster: Dn. Shahe Altounian
Organist: Mrs. Sona Artinian
GALATIANS 3:29-4:7
If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces a of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, c Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
LUKE 2:1-7
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE HOLY MOTHER-OF-GOD
On Sunday August 17 the Armenian Church celebrates The Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother-of-God. This Feast is the 4th of the 5 Tabernacle feasts of the Armenian Church and the oldest of all feasts dedicated to St. Mary. The Armenian Church celebrates this feast on the Sunday nearest to August 15, a practice adopted at the time of St. Nersess the Graceful. The Catholic and Orthodox Churches Celebrate this feast every yeaer on August 15.
There is little information about the details of St. Mary’s life in the New Testament and the story of her Assumption has been preserved and passed on to us through the Holy and Sacred Tradition of the Apostolic Church. After the Ascension of our Lord the Holy Virgin
lived in Jerusalem for about 15 years after under the care of St. John the Evangelist. She often visited the Empty Tomb of Jesus Christ and prayed. During one such visit to the tomb, the Archangel Gabriel appeared and gave her the news of her imminent assumption to heaven. After St. Mary passed away, all the Apostles, except Bartholomew, conducted her funeral at her tomb in the Garden of Gethsemane. The tradition says that they could hear angelic singing for three days, which they interpreted the angels’ singing as a sign that our Lord had assumed [taken up] His Mother into heaven as he had promised her. St. Bartholomew the Apostle was absent and did not participate in the burial service of St. Mary. Upon his return to Jerusalem, he wishes to see St. Mary for the last time. When the apostles opened the tomb they found it the empty and saw it as a confirmation of the promise that Jesus Christ had delivered His mother to His heavenly kingdom, and she had not been dead but had fallen asleep. For this reason, the church also refers to the end of her earthly life as “the dormition”.
GRAPE BLESSING
Following the Divine Liturgy, the Church holds the grape-blessing ceremony, which “officially” opens the season of grape. Most of the
Armenians refuse to taste grape before it is “blessed”. The Armenian Apostolic Church chose grape as a symbol of the harvest. During the ceremony the priest reads the prayer of St. Nerses the Gracious.
In the Armenian Church grapes are given preference over other fruits to be blessed as the first fruit of the harvest. This is conditioned by a number of historical and religious circumstances. According to the generalized tradition the choice of grapes over other fruits is usually explained by the convenience of the season. Also, our Lord described himself as the vine. The Communion wine, that symbolizes the blood of our Lord, is made from grapes. The canons of the Armenian Church do not prohibit eating grapes before the Blessing of the Grapes, and the tradition of abstaining from eating grapes before the ceremony is rooted in the people, and has become a national custom.
August 17, 2025 the Armenian Church celebrates THE FEAST OF ASSUMPTION OF THE HOLY MOTHER-OF-GOD
On this occasion the following names are celebrated:
Following the Divine Liturgy individuals who carry the names listed below are invited to receive God’s blessing.
Mariam, Mari, Mary, Marie Jeanne, Maria, Marineh, Maro, Mayranoush, Marietta, Maritza, Takouhi, Takoug, Surpouhi, Sourpig, Makrouhi, Isgouhi, Arpenig, Arevig, Aaghavni, Margarit, Yeranouhi, Yeranig, Azniv, Antaram, Arusyak, Arous, Pergrouhi, Pergroug, Yerchanik, Sultanig, Lousaper, Lousarpi, Lousentag, Lousineh,Gousineh, Berjouhi, Berjoug, Vergine, Denchali & Dirouhi.
FEASTS DEDICATED TO ST. MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD
The Armenian church celebrates the following feasts dedicated to the Holy Mother of God:
-Feast of the Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary by Anna-Armenian and the Greek Orthodox churches observe this feast on December 9, and the Roman Catholic Church celebrates on December
-Feast of the Nativity of the Holy Mother-of-God - The birth of St. Mary is celebrated by all traditional churches on September 8.
-Presentation of the Holy Mother-of-God to the Temple - The Feast of the Presentation of the Holy Mother-of-God to the Temple is celebrated by all the traditional churches on November 21.
-The Annunciation - The Annunciation commemorates the tidings which the Angel Gabriel brought to Mary. It was part of the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy. The Annunciation is observed in the Armenian Church on April 7.
-Discovery of the Box (Fifth Sunday after Pentecost)
-Discovery of the Belt (Second Sunday after the Assumption)
-Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother-of-God.
York Cemetery - Section #3
160 Beecroft Rd. Toronto M2N 5Z5
Monday, August 18, 2025
Requiem Service at 10:30 am
At York Cemetery, Section 3 - The site of Genocide Memorial 160 Beecroft Rd. Toronto M2N 5Z5
The blessing of individual graves by Rev. Archpriest Fr. Zareh Zargarian (Section 3) and Rev. Fr. Hayari Tanashian (Section 30)
To schedule the blessing of your loved ones’ graves, please contact the Church office at 416-431-3001
List of Donations – August 9-15, 2025
THE FEAST OF ASSUMPTION OF THE HOLY MOTHER AND GRAPE BLESSING
Mr. & Mrs. Haig & Yeranuhi Kelledjian $100
Mr. & Mrs. Simon & Salpy Kutyan $50
Mr. & Mrs. Berdj & Rose Marie Tanielian $100
Mr. & Mrs. Takvor & Lucy Hopyan $40
Mr. & Mrs. Dikran & Nayiri Kalaydjian $50
Mrs. Rita Musluyan $50
Mr. & Mrs. Madat & Tamar Mamourian $30
Mrs. Diana Bogosyan $50
Mr. Hagop Kalachian $100
Mr. Sarkis Dekermenjian $100
Mrs. Hripsik Sarkissian $100 – In Memory of her beloved Mother
Ms. Yughaper Icliates $400 - In Memory of the late Hacer Icliates and Kirkor Icliates
Mr. Henry S Abraham $200
Mrs. Anita Ohanessian $300 - ToWomen’sGuild
Mrs. Seza Nazarian $300 - ToWomen’sGuild
Mrs. Azniv Salibian $200 - ToWomen’sGuild
GENERAL DONATIONS
Ms Hripsime Manook $300
Mrs. Siran Hambarsom $100 (In honour of the 30th anniversary of being a church parishioner)
Mr. Vartkes Rubenyan $50
Mrs. Arpiné Altounian $50
Ms. Denna Berg $20
ON THE OCCASION OF MRS. SIRVART MIKAELIAN’S 85TH BIRTHDAY
Anonymous Donor $100
LOUMA
Dr. & Mrs. Grant & NathalieDe Groot $50
MEMBERSHIP
Mrs. Doris Kerametlian $80
Dr. Vatche Kerametlian $80
IN MEMORY OF THE LATE SARKIS TCHILINGUIRIAN
Ms. Rose Aharonian $100
Mr. & Mrs. Berdj & Rose Marie Tanielian $ 100
THE LATE VAHRAM AND HERANUS EKMEKCI
Ms Talin Arzumanian $50
Mr. Arto Tozcu $100
THE LATE KRIKOR BOYADJIAN
Mr. & Mrs. Sarkis & Hermin Brounsozyan $100
Mr. Hagop Minassian $30
THE LATE KLARIS KESHISHIAN
Mr. & Mrs. Ara & Rosaline Barseghian $100
THE LATE KARNEEK VARJABEDIAN
Ms Hripsime Manook $100
ALTAR FLOWERS
Anonymous Sponsor $100
APPRECIATION
We thank all our donors for supporting Holy Trinity Armenian Church through their heartfelt donations. If you prefer to stay anonymous, please contact the Church office and inform the administration.
Donations may be made:
Over the phone: 416 431 3001
E-transfer via: info@TorontoArmenianChurch.com
Cheques payable to: HTAC OR
Scan the QR code to donate online
Since
Tel:
լինիլ
Մայրսուրբբարեխօսեա՛
Աղաչեա՛վասնմեր
պարգեւել մեզ խնդրեմք
Vicar of Armenian Church Canadian Diocese and Parish Priest Rev. Archpriest Fr. Zareh Zargarian
Pastor’s Assistant Rev. Fr. Hayari Tanashian
Church Office Hours: Monday to Friday - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Executive Secretary, Ani Sarvarian Ani@TorontoArmenianChurch.com
Administrative Secretary, Betty Panossian Betty@TorontoArmenianChurch.com
920 Progress Ave. Toronto, ON, M1G 3T5 Tel: 416 431 3001 www.TorontoArmenianChurch.com info@TorontoArmenianChurch.com @TorontoArmenianChurch.com
