Adventist Health Glendale hosted its annual Blessing of the Grapes ceremony on Aug. 10, where physicians, nurses, patients and members of the community gathered for a humble ceremony recognizing a harvest-time tradition dating back more than 1,700 years.
Grapes hold a special place of honor and are considered the “first fruit” by the Armenian Church. The annual blessing marks the end of summer and the beginning of the harvest season.
The free event was open to the community and attendees were gifted with a blessed offering of grapes. Patients at the 515-bed hospital also received blessed grapes with their dinner trays.
Services were performed by the hospital’s Mission & Spiritual Care team, in partnership with the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
First published in the August 19 print issue of the Glendale News-Press.
