St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church in Hamilton celebrated Palm Sunday commemorating our Lord Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, on March 24, 2013.
The Eucharist of Palm Sunday to relives the events of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Serop Azarian with the deacons serving the Holy Altar. In the sermon deliver to his parishioners, Father Serop spoke about the human nature of sin to add to the accumulated pile of mistakes and abomination and the way of return to God by humility, love and repentance. As to an example he spoke about the Lord’s willingness to ride a donkey instead of being carried by people and to imitate that humility by service to one another.
After the Divine Liturgy, and for the very first time in the church, Father Serop conducted the service of the opening of the portals or doors, which he preceded with an Armenian and English explanation and invited the faithful to pray in repentance and ask the Lord to forgive the sins and mistakes made, and to ask Him for His mercy upon all. The opening of the portals, symbolize the heavens being closed in front of sin, and rebellion, and opening only after thorough repentance, penance and redemptive acts of love and dedication.
The day was beautiful with the presence of a few children, who were gathered at the Sunday school by the school staff. Father Serop blessed the children and they were given palms to commemorate the entry of Jesus to Jerusalem. Following the Badarak the people gathered in the Hall beneath the Church to enjoy a community luncheon prepared by the Ladies Society volunteers of the Church. Father Serop blessed the meal and spoke words of encouragement and thanks to all.
