Bzommar, Lebanon

On Sunday, the 15^th of August 2010, on the occasion of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and at the same time the nomination of the ancient convent of Bzommar that was constructed by Abraham Ardzivian, as well as the pilgrimage day, His Excellency Bishop Hovhannes Teyrouzian celebrated a patriarchal holy mass and he ordained the gracious Robert (Krikor) Badishah deacon, in the convent courtyard of Bzommar.

During the holy mass, His Excellency the Reverend Father said in his sermon: « The Blessed Virgin is the mother of Jesus and the mother of every one of us, to whom we always turn to pray and implore her intercession. The Holy Trinity crowned the mother of God queen of heaven and earth, queen of angels and forefathers, queen of martyrs and saints as well as queen of families and Church ».

At the end of the holy mass, Dr. Edward Torikian directed the patriarchal  «Groung» choir who sang soul-stirring hymns and played sacred music, in the meantime His Excellency the Reverend Father blessed the grape that was given to the faithful people who were present there. Accompanied by the parade of Homenetmen scouts playing trumpet, the faithful people went to the convent hall where His Excellency the Reverend Father, the High Priest of Bzommar Father Michael Mouradian, the monastic fathers and the ordained deacon and his parents received the congratulations.

At 1:00 PM in the afternoon, there was a traditional meal in the seminary dining-room in which participated the Lebanese Minister of Interior and Municipalities Mr. Ziad Baroud, the deputy Mr. Serge Tor Sarkissian, His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia Mr. Ashot Kocharian, the friends and benefactors of the convent as well as the ecclesiastical order and the seminarians.