Under the Auspices of His Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy of Canada, the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God will be celebrated and a grape blessing ceremony will be held at St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Toronto on August 12.

On this feast day, the Blessing of Grapes service will take place immediately after the Divine Liturgy in all Prelacy Churches across Canada. The service is rich in symbolism and emphasizes the important role of the Virgin Mary in the revelation of God.

The blessing of the grapes became part of this celebration due to their association to Jesus Christ in numerous biblical references and in thanksgiving to God as the first fruit of the harvest.