The Feast of the Assumption of the Mother of God: The Vow Day of Haghartsin

On August 14, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of the Mother of God. In Tavush, the day of this holiday has already been traditionally established as the vow day of Haghartsin Monastery.

On the occasion of the holiday, in the Monastery holly Liturgy and then the blessing ceremony of grapes was performed by Bishop Bagrat, the leader of the Diocese of Tavush.

Tradition tells that when the Holy Mother of God died, Bartholomew, the Apostle was not present; he was in Armenia. When he returned to Jerusalem, he was deeply saddened that he had not been able to say his last goodbye to the Holy Mother of God. He asked the Apostles to open the grave of the Mother of God so that he could also see her for the last time and be consoled. The Apostles prayed and agreed to fulfill their brother’s wish. When they opened the grave, the body of the Holy Virgin was not there but only the shrouds. And they glorified God, knowing about the Transfiguration of the Mother of God.