Armodoxy for Today: Grapes, the Symbol of Productivity
In John chapter 15, Jesus sets up a metaphor, with himself being the vine, his Father the vinedresser and us, the branches. No matter how you twist or turn these three, the message is clear: Life is about productivity. Life is meant to be lived. We are the branches of the metaphor and the only way to be productive – to bear fruit, grapes – is to be connected to the vine.
The Vine, Jesus Christ, is incarnate Love. A productive life is one that is nurtured and the fueled by Love. Only when you are connected to the Vine, to Love, does life have purpose and meaning. A life of love is not selfish. The branch is not preoccupied with self-love and self-preservation. The ego is placed to one side and fruit – robust, juicy, flavorful, aromatically alluring grapes poke through the hard and rough branches to bring joy to those who partake.
Only by being connected to the vine does this happen. A branch cut from the Vine, cut from Love, only stands alone and withers.
Today’s one minute for Summertime.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Grapes-productivity-765-e1755662461355.jpg1125795Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2026-08-19 00:10:162026-08-18 22:21:12Retorciendo para producir
The first fruits of the season, grapes, are blessed on the Feast of the Assumption of the Asdvadzadzin. Last week, we built up to the Feast with reflections on the Blessed Mother, Mary. This week, we meditate on the meaning of the grapes based the Jesus’ words, recorded in John, chapter 15:
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit….
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Today’s one minute for Summertime.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/DALL·E-2023-08-10-20.42.37-oil-painting-of-table-with-various-types-of-grapes-and-vineyards-in-the-background.png10241024Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2026-08-17 00:10:102026-08-16 20:36:30Sobre las uvas
Next Step #817 – August 15, 2026 – The Feast of the Assumption of St. Mary this week is cover up by a wave of noise that detracts from her central message to us. As one who gave birth to LOVE, it’s hard to find her amidst the noise. She comes from the tradition of “Seven Sorrows” in the Roman Catholic tradition, and a church in Gyumri, Armenia that has served both Armenian Apostolic and Roman Catholics. Fr. Vazken shares a preface to his sermon about the seven-wounds of Mary. But first… the new self-appointed guardians of democracy hit the local Armenian Church as an easy target (cf. Epstein files, genocide, etc). Vying for the status of influencer, they miss an opportunity to connect to something higher. And more…
Photo: from a Facebook post – Wannabe defenders of freedom bully their way in front of an Armenian church. >
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Copilot_20260815_162455-e1786936973442.png14621024Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2026-08-15 17:09:392026-08-15 17:09:39Ruido alrededor de Santa María
A custom and tradition in the Armenian Church is to bless grapes on the Feast of Assumption. Jesus uses a grape-grapevine metaphor to describe his relationship with his followers. We’ll dive deeper into that vat next week, but for today, let’s focus on why the grape blessing is connected to the Blessed Mother Mary.
Given Armenia’s climate, the first crop of grapes would be ready by mid-August making the Feast of Assumption a convenient time for farmers to offer their first crop to the church as a symbol of thanksgiving. This offering would be blessed by the priest, in a prayer of thanksgiving for the weather and fertile soil. The grapes would then be shared with the community through the church.
The first crop was not the leftovers, but the very best of the harvest. Your very best should be offered to God – your goods, your labor, energy, talents – and through the Church they are distributed among the community. St. Mary, who knew Christ from the womb to the Resurrection, was the first Christian. On this day, the first fruits of our labor are offered.
Today’s one minute for Summertime.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Vineyard-762.jpg11251125Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2026-08-15 00:10:252026-08-13 21:19:02¿Por qué conectar las uvas con María?
Within the Armenian tradition the Blessed Mother, St. Mary, has many names, the meanings of which, have inspired generation upon generation. These descriptive names have been given as proper names to girls in Armenian tradition. Some of them are, Srbuhi = the Holy One, Lousaper = the Light Bearer, Tiruhi = the Holy Lady, Makruhi = the Clean One, Imastuhi = the Wise One, Geghetzik = Beautiful, Anarat = The Pure One… and the list goes on.
These descriptive names highlight the virtues of St. Mary and, for us, become guiding beacons by which we pattern our life, with holiness, light, purity, wisdom and beauty.
But the most common name by which she is referred to in the Armenian Church, is a descriptor and a definition. It is, Asdvadzadzin, or the God bearer. As with all the names, especially with Asdvadzadzin, the emphasis is not on her, but on the fruit of her womb, Jesus.
Today’s one minute for Summertime.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Marys-Acceptance-875.jpg345345Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2026-08-14 00:10:042026-08-11 22:09:24María, el nombre
This week is one of preparation for the Feast of Assumption of the blessed Mother, Mary. Sometimes the story of St. Mary seems overwhelmingly complicated with supernatural events taking place, most notably her relationship with Joseph and subsequently Christ’s virgin birth. As such, the most important and fundamental message of her story might be overlooked.
Let’s take it from the beginning. St. Mary is at the top of the list of saints, because she said “Yes” to God’s request to bear Jesus Christ, Love Incarnate, the complete and full expression of Love. As a saint, she is not worshipped but is one whose actions are to be followed and emulated.
The request God made of St. Mary is no different than the request He makes of you and me: bear Christ. Bear love. Bring Love into the world. Prepare yourself, with prayer, fasting and acts of charity. Clean, purge yourself of evil thoughts, hatred and prejudice so that love flows from you, freely. Virginity simplified.
Today’s one minute for Summertime.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/bringing-love-into-the-world-white-hearts-759-e1754973627451.jpg1125800Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2026-08-13 00:10:452026-08-11 22:03:45Antes de la virginidad
When the legendary rock band, The Beatles, recorded “Let it Be,” Paul McCartney’s voice added a very tender element to the chords he pounded on the piano. “When I find myself in times of trouble,” he sang, “Mother Mary comes to me.”
I was 12 years old at the time the song came out. It was a beautiful and sentimental piece. I remember thinking the even he, one of the Beatles and therefore the entire group, was sharing the very special place Mother Mary has in our lives.
It was several years, perhaps decades later, that in an interview McCartney shared that the lyric was about his own mother, Mary McCartney, who had died to an illness early in his life. He was sharing his longing for his own mother in those words.
This week begins the preparation for the Feast of Assumption of St. Mary. There is a longing we all have for the Blessed Mother. We’ll prepare for the feast by casting our attention on her and her story.
Today’s one minute for Summertime.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Mary-on-the-Keys-scaled.jpg15582560Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2026-08-12 00:10:322026-08-11 22:02:00Que así sea, Madre María
On this fourth day of preparation for the Feast ahead of us, we focus on the singular place the St. Mary occupies in human history.
The Feast we celebrate on Sunday is called the Assumption. As Tradition tells us, when the Blessed Mother passed away, the Apostle Bartholomew was absent from the group of Apostles who attended her funeral. When he returned to Jerusalem he asked that he might visit her tomb to offer his respects to the Holy Mother of Blessed Memory. When they found her tomb empty, it was revealed that she was “assumed” into Heaven by Christ himself. Hence, the Feast is called the Assumption of the Asdvadzadzin.
The two words Assumption and Asdvadzadzin, celebrates the one who knew Jesus before and after the “cradle to grave” markers. St. Mary knew Christ from womb to Resurrection to her own Assumption. In the words of the angels, she is the highly favored one, the Lord is with her; blessed is she among women! (Luke 1:28)
Today’s one minute for Summertime.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Utah-761-e1755145355218.jpg8781123Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2025-08-14 00:01:442025-08-13 21:23:21Más allá de la cuna a la tumba
Ahora que ha pasado la fiesta de la Asunción de la Santísima Madre de Dios, Asdvadzadzin, comparto contigo esta fascinante historia que une a todos los cristianos bautizados y confirmados en la Iglesia armenia.
Cuando la Asdvadzadzin falleció, todos los apóstoles, excepto el apóstol Bartolomé, estaban en Jerusalén y asistieron a su servicio funerario. Cuando Bartolomé regresó a Jerusalén y fue informado del fallecimiento de la Madre María, pidió ver los restos benditos una última vez. Cuando abrieron su tumba para cumplir con la petición de Bartolomé, su cuerpo no estaba allí. Ella fue asunta al Cielo por su Hijo. De ahí que la palabra "Asunción" se utilice para describir la entrada de la Asdvadzadzin al Cielo. Es diferente a la Resurrección, que fue un evento singular donde Jesús, por su propio poder, resucitó. En el caso de Santa María, ella fue asunta al Cielo.
A continuación, hay una breve historia apócrifa. Durante la infancia de Jesús, las escrituras nos dicen que ocurrieron muchos eventos y "María guardaba todas estas cosas, meditándolas en su corazón" (Lucas 2:19). Cuando el cordón umbilical de Jesús se desprendió, María lo colocó en un frasco de alabastro y lo guardó consigo a través de los años. Cuando Bartolomé vino a presentar sus respetos a la vida de la Santa Madre, le entregaron el frasco, el cual mantuvo cerca de su corazón.
En la cuarta década d.C., Bartolomé llegó a Armenia para predicar el Evangelio. Fue martirizado en Armenia por su fe y compromiso con Jesucristo. Antes de ser ejecutado, pudo entregar el pequeño frasco de alabastro a los miembros de la Iglesia clandestina en Armenia. El frasco y su contenido, el cordón umbilical de nuestro Señor, fueron guardados secretamente por la Iglesia hasta la conversión de Armenia en el año 301 d.C. por San Gregorio el Iluminador. En ese momento, el frasco fue entregado a Gregorio, quien había ascendido al Trono Apostólico como obispo principal. Gregorio consagró el primer lote de Santo Miuron en ese momento y añadió los restos del cordón umbilical al primer miuron. Este Santo Crisma, que se utiliza para la consagración de los fieles, sacerdotes, obispos y lugares sagrados, se renueva cada siete años. En cada nuevo lote se añade el lote anterior, lo que significa que ¡hay moléculas en el Santo Miuron que provienen de la época de Jesucristo!
Este año habrá una bendición del Santo Miuron. En los próximos episodios compartiremos el misterio del Santo Miuron con nuestros oyentes.
Hoy rezamos el Cántico de María, conocido como el Magníficat, en armenio, Medzastzudzeh. Mi alma magnifica al Señor, y mi espíritu se regocija en Dios mi Salvador, porque ha mirado la humilde condición de su sierva; porque he aquí, desde ahora todas las generaciones me llamarán bienaventurada. Amén.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/IMG_9877-scaled.jpeg18182560Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2024-08-19 00:01:162024-08-18 22:15:07Frasco de alabastro con el cordón umbilical
