Feast Of The Assumption Of The Holy Mother Of God Celebrated In Porter Ranch And Granada Hills

On August 16, 2026, with the blessing of the Primate of the Western Diocese, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the Armenian Apostolic community of Porter Ranch and Granada Hills celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God, one of the beloved feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church. 

On this occasion, the community gathered for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy by the Rev. Fr. Gevork Abyan. More than 100 faithful were present for the Divine Liturgy, united in prayer and Christian love as they shared in the spiritual mystery and joy of the Feast of the Assumption.

In his sermon, Fr. Gevork reflected on the meaning of the Feast of the Assumption, highlighting the unique place and role of the Holy Mother of God in the life of the Holy Church and its faithful. He emphasized that the mystery of the Assumption reminds us that a life lived faithfully in God finds its fulfillment in His presence. The life of the Holy Mother of God teaches us to trust in God’s will, even when the path before us may be difficult or uncertain. Through her entire life, she remained faithful to God’s will and continues to stand before us as a living example of prayer, faith, and love.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the traditional Blessing of the Grapes ceremony was held. The Blessing of the Grapes is more than a beautiful tradition; it reminds us that all the blessings we enjoy are gifts from God. By offering the first fruits of the harvest to God, we express our gratitude and ask the Lord to bless our families, our work, our lives, and our community. Just as a vine bears fruit when it is nourished by the soil and water, so too does the life of a Christian become fruitful when it is firmly rooted in Christ.

Following the ceremonial rite, members of the community gathered for fellowship and refreshments, continuing the joy of the day in a spirit of brotherly love, conversation, and togetherness. The gathering provided an opportunity not only to celebrate together, but also to strengthen the bonds of love and unity among the members of the community.

Once again this year, the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God and the Blessing of the Grapes became one of the beautiful and blessed occasions in the life of the Porter Ranch and Granada Hills community. Through the intercession of the Holy Mother of God, may the Lord continue to protect and preserve our community, strengthen our faith, bless our families, and guide us toward an ever-deeper and more vibrant spiritual and ecclesial life.