Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian
Prelate Western Prelacy
6252 Honolulu Avenue, Suite # 100
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: 818-248-7737
Fax: 818-248-7745
E-Mail: Prelacy@aol.com

BLESSING OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF WESTERN PRELACY’S ST. DERTAD AND
ST. ASHKHEN CHAPEL

The Western Prelacy marked an important milestone on Sunday, July 11,
2004, by the blessing of the foundations of the Prelacy chapel that
signaled the beginning of the construction of the chapel and the
renovation of the Prelacy building.

Many faithful had gathered at the Prelacy in La Crescenta to
participate in the ceremony and witness this important event.

The ceremony was conducted by His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, the Prelate, accompanied by the Clergy of the Prelacy,
and in the presence of the Prelacy benefactors, sponsors of the
Chapel, the Altar, the baptismal font, the 16 pillars and various
parts of the Prelacy. Present were the representatives of the Central
Executives of the Holy See of the Catholicosate of the Great House of
Cilicia, the Executive Council of the Prelacy, as well as the
representatives of the Prelacy Committees and Parishes, and a
congregation of supporters.

As the prayers and scripture readings proceeded, His Eminence the
Prelate conducted the washing of the Vemkar (the foundation stone) of
the Alter andthe 16 pillars of the chapel with wine and water. The
stones were engraved with Crosses. The 16 pillars are dedicated to the
Disciples of Christ, the Evangelists and St. Gregory the Illuminator,
the founder of the Armenian Church.

Later on, he anointed each stone with Holy Oil -Muron_ and handed them
to the godfathers to be placed at the foundations of the chapel.

After the ceremony, the Prelate delivered a message to express his
contentment for the achievement of this important milestone with the
grace of God. He also declared that the new chapel would be named
after the first Christian king and queen of Armenia, St. Dertad and
St. Ashkhen. He reminded the faithful that His Holiness Aram I
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia had declared the year 2004 as
the Year of the Armenian Family, therefore it wasmost appropriate to
name the chapel after the first Christian family of our nation.

On this joyous occasion, the Prelate once more thanked all sponsors
and the benefactors of the Prelacy, and specially the Bedrosian, the
Carolan and the Pilavjian families, who had provided both moral and
financial support not only to the project of the Prelacy Building, but
to the Prelacy as a wholein order to carry on its mission of serving
our mother church and the Armenian Community at large.