The Assumption of the Holy Mother of God

St. Mary fulfilled God's divine plan for mankind by becoming the Bearing-of-God, (Asdvadzadzin in Armenian, Theotokos in Greek). The term "Bearer of God" was officially recognized as the proper term to be used by the church during the Council of Ephesus in 431. In the Old Testament we read how the Prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled in the Virgin Mary:

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse (the father of the King David)."

From her birth, St. Mary was blessed by God to fulfill His divine plan of salvation. In the Gospel of Luke 1:41-42 it states, "And when Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry:

"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!"

The Armenian Church doctrine teaches that the Blessed Mother Mary has a primary place of honor because it was 'of' her and 'by' the Holy Spirit that God became incarnate (took human flesh). She is seen as the image of humanity, fully obedient to God and ultimately sanctified by doing God's will."

Taken from...Bless, O Lord (page 17), DRE Publication, 1989

Did You Know?

The Home Blessing Ceremony

The home is a sacred place where family members maintain and share many values. It is also a place where they are charged and empowered with these values to live a peaceful and God-pleasing life. It is under this roof that all collectively form oneness in spirit and assume an important responsibility in the life of the community. It is in this place where they break bread and share joys and sorrows. Here the presence of the Omnipotent is felt since every family is a miniature of a "Little Church – Ecclesia." In this "Little Church" the inexhaustible love and the very generous blessing of God permeate.

According to the sacred traditions of the Armenian Church, God's blessing is asked for homes on different occasions, like on the Nativity and the Resurrection of Christ, as well as on the joyous occasion of moving into a new home.

For Home Blessing the priest takes with him wafer and incense. He blesses the bread, the water and the salt. These three fundamental elements are essential life-giving gifts for human life. The priest asks from the Omnipotent God not to lessen these three gifts without which life becomes impossible or imperfect.

The bread, the water and the salt are symbols of God's infinite goodness and care. With the blessing of these great gifts the household is enriched spiritually and its existence perpetuated for the service of his Creator.

The bread, which symbolically represents the Word of God, grants life to all those who taste it. The salt seasons our food and makes it delicious and edible. Metaphorically salt represents man in this world with his words and deeds. Christ said, "You are the salt of the earth." Man's life should be seasoned with wisdom, moderation or sense of sufficiency. Finally, water which is the most essential element of life, figuratively represents cleanliness. It's through water that we are cleansed by baptism, renewed in Christ, and united with Him.

Along with the bread, salt, and bread offered on a tray by the dwellers, the priest places also the wafer stamped with a crucifix and designs of grapes and wheat. The wafer is the presence of Christ in the home. The members of the family can either distribute the wafer among themselves or keep it in a jar along with flour, salt, or rice.

During Home Blessing it is customary to burn incense which symbolizes the burning of our souls with our Lord's love. In his supplication the Psalmist says, "Let my prayer be counted as incense before Thee."

In the prayer of the Home Blessing the priest after asking for purity and abundance of the three gifts, he blesses the home and all its dwellers and asks God to keep them away from visible and invisible enemies and protect them under His powerful Right Hand granting them health of soul and body.

Home Blessing is a meaningful religious service that brings the entire family together in oneness and holiness, and blesses them. Through this ceremony everyone's faith is replenished and strengthened and the Lord's presence is felt.

The beautiful tradition of the Home Blessing unfortunately has been cast into oblivion. Today, more than ever, we need the presence and blessing of the Lord in our homes and lives. The revival of this centuries old custom will certainly bring us close to our Lord. Family members are encouraged to take part of the ceremony to make it more meaningful.

Text taken from a booklet prepared by the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern), Home Blessing: According to the Rite of the Armenian Church