Glendale News Press reports that Wednesday morning the annual Blessing of the Grapes ceremony took place at Glendale Adventist Medical Center’s chapel.
For nearly 20 years, the hospital has hosted the event to honor the harvest alongside St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Glendale. The Armenian tradition dates back 1,700 years.
Glendale Adventist Senior Chaplain Al Garcilazo said “We like to honor the Armenian traditions here. This is harvest time and time to give thanks for our blessings.”
It is one of three ceremonies dedicated to Armenian celebrations.
The press also writes that each year, Glendale Adventist also reveres memory to victims of the Armenian genocide, and in January, the Orthodox Church Christmas, which the Armenian Apostolic Church observes, is celebrated with a service in the main lobby.
Priests who participated in the Wednesday’s ceremony visited hospital patients.