Press-Enterprise (subscription), CA
Sept 29 2004

Local Armenian church to host archbishop

The Press-Enterprise

Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, primate of the Western Diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, will celebrate the Holy Badarak, the
Armenian Church’s term for the Divine Liturgy, at the monthly service
of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Riverside on Sunday. The 2 p.m.
Mass will be celebrated at All Saints Episcopal Church, 3847
Terracina Drive, Riverside.

The archbishop’s visit will be the first since the congregation was
formed in February. The Riverside church, which serves Armenians in
San Bernardino and Riverside counties, is a mission parish of the
Armenian Apostolic Church.

At the end of the service the archbishop will bless members of the
parish council, the Ladies Society and the youth group, said the Rev.
Dr. Stepanos Dingilian, visiting pastor. A brief reception will
follow the service.

Church members will observe October as Cultural Appreciation Month, a
time to reflect on 4,000 years of Armenian culture and the
complementary roles that faith and culture play, Dingilian said by
phone.

“The Armenian Orthodox Church does not see religion and culture
competing against each other,” he said. “Faith should raise the
standards of culture, and the culture should support the faith.”

For information about Sunday’s service, call (951) 684-1722, (951)
369-6119 or (909) 883-1066.