Pasadena Star-News, CA
March 14 2005
Sacred symbol
New cross consecrated for St. Gregory
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, above left, Primate of the Western
Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, consecrates a 7-foot
cross Sunday at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church
in Pasadena. At right, Sarkis Sahagian, the donor of the new cross,
washes the cross with water during Sunday’s ceremony. The cross will
eventually sit atop the dome of the church’s new building. The
ceremony included washing the cross with water and wine a symbol of
the blood of Christ before anointing it with holy oil. After its
consecration, the cross is considered holy, said Father Zaven
Arzoumanian, who leads the church. The ceremony included the
parishioners kissing the cross one by one.