March 13, 2005

St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church
2215 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91107
Contact: Dn. Carl Bardakian
Phone: 626-449-1523
Email: stgregory@shoghagat.com
URL:

HIS EMINENCE ARCHBISHOP HOVNAN DERDERIAN CONSECRATES 7 FOOT CROSS IN PASADENA

Sunday, March 13, 2005 was a momentous milestone for St. Gregory the
Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church and for the entire Armenian
community in Pasadena. His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America
presided, as hundreds of faithful attended the Divine Liturgy on the
sixth Sunday of Lent, the Sunday of Advent, celebrated by the pastor,
Rev. Dr. Zaven Arzoumanian. Divine Liturgy was followed by the Arevakal
(Sunrise service), which is associated with Lent. The beautiful hymns
of the Arevakal service are credited to the prominent 12th century
hymnographer and Catholicos of All Armenians, St. Nerses Shnorhali.

Before giving his inspiring sermon, Archbishop Hovnan led the
installation service of the Parish Council. His Eminence then
congratulated the entire Parish Council for their dedication to the
Armenian Church and to the parish. During the sermon, His Eminence
emphasized his excitement about the pending completion of the new
church sanctuary and the significance of the consecration of the
cross for the dome. The Primate also spoke of his respect and warm
feelings towards Fr. Zaven Arzoumanian. Archbishop Hovnan noted
that His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, is traveling from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
to the Western Diocese in June for an official Pontifical visit.
As part of this historic visit, His Holiness will visit the parish
and St. Gregory A. & M. Hovsepian School on Friday, June 10, 2005.
Archbishop Hovnan encouraged the faithful to participate in the
upcoming events in June. A full itinerary will be released shortly.

Following the sermon and Hokehankisd [Repose of Souls] service, there
was a festive procession leading outside to the newly constructed 7
ft. Armenian style cross for the dome of the new church. The choir
and altar servers eagerly joined the Primate, Pastor, and Very Rev.
Fr. Dajad Yardumian in the singing of Oorakh Ler Soorp Yegeghetsi
[Rejoice O Holy Church]. The faithful also participated in the singing
of this sacred hymn, which was written by Sahag III Tsoraporetsi,
who from 677-703 AD was the Catholicos of All Armenians. Mr. Sarkis
Sahagian, a longtime parishioner and former Parish Council member,
served as the Godfather of the Cross. Mr. Sahagian took part in the
service by washing the 7 ft. cross with water and wine. His Eminence
consecrated the bronze cross with Holy Muron from the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin. The Holy Muron is composed of extracts from forty
different fragrant flowers and sweet oils. The Holy Muron is mixed in
a large cauldron and blessed by the Catholicos of All Armenians using
holy relics, including the relic of the right arm of St. Gregory the
Illuminator. The mixture of some of the previously blessed Holy Muron
with the newly blessed Holy Muron occurs approximately once every
seven years. It is then dispersed throughout the world. His Eminence
noted the beauty and symbolism of the 7 ft. Armenian style cross
which, when mounted on top of the new church dome, will pierce the
Pasadena skyline at 92 ft. high and be seen from near and far. The 7
ft. Armenian style cross was designed by Rev. Fr. Arakel Aljalian,
the pastor of St. James Armenian Church in Watertown, MA and a member
of the Architectural and Arts Committee of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern).