St. Gregory the Illuminator of St. Catharines, Ontario, celebrated the feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God – Sourp Asdvadzadzin, with its annual spiritual and festival celebration of the Divine Liturgy and the subsequent picnic on Sunday, August 18, 2013.
The liturgy was initiated with the offering of the chants, hymns and prayers of the Morning Service offered by Rev. Fr. Serop Azarian, V. Rev. Father Kegham Zakarian, Fr. Datev Melengitchian, and around eight deacons who came from Toronto. Following the service, the Divine Liturgy was offered by Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisian, the Locum Tenens of the Armenian Diocese of Canada. He was assisted by a number of deacons from St. Catharines, Hamilton, Mississauga and Toronto. Serving alongside Srbazan Hayr were Rev. Fr. Serop Azarian, pastor of the church and Rev. Fr. Myron Sarkisian, Pastor of St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church of Mississauga. Similarly, the choir also was composed of singers from the said communities who came to chant for the Lord.
In his message, Srbazan hayr, spoke about the role model of Holy Mother of God in her utmost humility and the example of the modern mother and follower of Christ. The sermon was based on the story of the wedding at Cana, where Christ turned the water into wine. “Whatever he tells you to do, do it!” said Srbazan Hayr resonating the words of the Mother of God, and in emphasizing our duty towards the message of Christ in our modern day life. Srbazan Hayr gave words of fatherly advice of harmony and humility to all who were present to be more in service of God and the Holy Church and had words of hope and encouragement to follow to our Armenian faith and heritage.
More than 200 people gathered at the picnic following the conclusion of the Liturgy. The participants were served with delicious traditional Armenian dishes and desserts, dance and music. The blessing day of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God is a great high holy day in the St. Gregory Armenian church of St. Catharines and thus it annually celebrated and enjoyed by the residents and guests of our church in St. Catharines.
