On the Feast of the Assumption of St. Mary, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the blessing of grapes. Grapes hold Christian symbolic significance as Christ blessed wine from grapes to represent his blood. During the ceremony, grapes are brought to the church as "forbidden fruit" and leave blessed, representing work, pleasure, and worship. The blessed grapes would be used for wine and some preserved to bless the next year's grapes, showing abundance.

1. THE BLESSING OF THE GRAPES

3. Armenian Apostolic Church is celebrating the feast Assumption of the Virgin Mary -The blessing of grapes

4. Grapes do have a certain Christian symbolic significance, but for our ancestors it was a symbol of labor and recreation. Through the blessing, grape got divine significance. Our clergymen had chosen grape for benediction since Christ blessed the wine made from grapes and gave it to his disciples as a symbol of his vital blood. Thus work, pleasure and worship were all brought together in this ceremony. The same blessed grape would become blessed wine, and from that very grape people preserved a bit for the next year grape blessing ceremony as a sign of richness and abundance.

5. On the Feast of the Assumption of St. Mary, the Ceremony of the Blessing of the Grapes is conducted, and the harvest for the entire year is blessed on that day.

7. Following the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Holy Virgin remains in Jerusalem, and lives under the care of St. John the Evangelist. For nearly 12 years, St. Mary lives by praying, fasting, and often visiting the empty tomb of her beloved Son. During one such visit to the tomb, the Archangel Gabriel appears and gives her the news of her imminent assumption to heaven. St. Mary relays the news to her relatives and all Christians, asking them to bury her in the valley of Gethsemane. St. Mary also asks the Apostle John to celebrate a Divine Liturgy, so she may receive Holy Communion one final time. After receiving Holy Communion, St. Mary returns to her room. As the Apostles prepare to mourn her death, St. John asks the Mother of God to leave an image of her face on a board of wood. St. Mary takes the board, crosses herself and brings it close to her face. Moistening the board with her tears, she asks God that by means of the board, people would be cured from disease. As the Apostles surround St. Mary, an indescribable light appears. The Son of God and the angels of heaven appear in the room. Seeing Christ, St. Mary dies.

8. Assumption of Holy Virgin

9. Assumption of Holy Virgin

13. Bless, O Lord, these new fruits of the vine which Thou hast brought to maturity by the dew of heaven, by plentiful rains, and by tranquil and favorable weather. Thou hast given us this fruit for our use that we may receive it with thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen. Kind of Catholic Prayer for Grape blessing

14. Please join us for The Blessing of the Grapes! For more information about a celebration to bless the grapes, please visit here : ARMENIAN EVENTS – THE BLESSING OF THE GRAPES ! ARMENIAN GRAPE BLESSING TOUR !

15. THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION !!! Welcome Armenia