PRESS OFFICE
ARMENIAN CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA WESTERN DIOCESE
3325 North Glenoaks Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91504
Tel: (818) 558-7474
Fax: (818) 558-6333
E-mail: armenianchwd@earthlink.net
Website:

COMMUNIQUÉ

PRIMATE PRESIDES OVER THE
12TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF
ST. MARY ARMENIAN CHURCH IN COSTA MESA

On Sunday, June 13, 2004 His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Primate of the Armenian Church of North America Western Diocese,
celebrated Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon at St. Mary Armenian
Apostolic Church in Costa Mesa, on the occasion of the twelfth
anniversary of the consecration of the church. The Divine Liturgy was
followed by a reception in the church hall.

The Primate addressed the faithful with the message, ÓThe twelfth
anniversary celebration of the consecration of St. Mary Armenian Church
is certainly a time for us to reflect upon our individual lives and the
life of the community, as to how much do we accomplish our duties in our
God-given lives. Therefore celebrations are special times for
thanksgiving and the renewal within us of the vocation and calling to
serve the Lord and the Church.
^ÓToday^Òs celebration reawakens in us the vision to make God ever-present
in our spiritual life. Today^Òs celebration calls on us to lead a
creative life, but above all to follow the messages of or Lord ^Å ^ÑGo,
therefore, and teach all the nations of the world^Ò. To teach means to
share; therefore through celebration we are reminded once again that
life is more meaningful if we share our God-given gifts^Ô.
We congratulate St. Mary Armenian Church on this joyous
occasion.

CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF MR. YERVANT BABAYAN

Sunday evening, June 13, 2004 a celebratory reception was held in honor
of the 90th birthday and 70th anniversary of the services of Mr. Yervant
Babayan, under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Primate, and organized by a committee headed by Mashdots College. The
event was held at the Kalaydjian Hall of the Arshag and Eleanor
Dickranian Complex of the Western Diocese and was attended by several
Clergy of the Diocese.
Mr. Yervant Babayan has dedicated his life to the education of the
Armenian people and community. He is well known as the principal of two
schools, in Aleppo and Lebanon, as a writer, editor, and community
activist.
Hosted by Dr. Garbis Der Yeghiayan, the program of the evening included
recitations, music, as well as congratulatory remarks from the various
distinguished members of the community.
After a touching speech by Mr. Yervant Babayan, the clergy, headed by
His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, walked onto the stage, where
in his message His Eminence commended Mr. Babayan on his many years of
unrelenting service and dedication. Following, Very Rev. Fr. Asbed
Balian read the encyclical of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All
Armenians. The program closed with a prayer by the clergy.
We congratulate Mr. Yervant Babayan for an impressive career that spans
a period of seventy years. We wish him and his family health and
prosperity for many years to come.

DIVAN OF THE DIOCESE
June 14, 2004
Burbank, CA