Pontiff to make a visit locally
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all
Armenians, will stop in Glendale next week.
By Ani Amirkhanian, News Press-Leader
Glendale News Press, CA
May 30 2005
Armenians eagerly await the arrival of His Holiness Karekin II,
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians.
For his second Pontifical visit to the Western Diocese, the Catholicos
will spend June 1 through 10 in Southern California, stopping in
Glendale on June 6 for special visits with the Armenian community at
Glendale Adventist Medical Center to greet patients and consecrate
the hospital’s new patient care tower.
He will present the hospital with a Khachkar, which will permanently
stay at the hospital. A Khachkar is a stone slab with a cross carved
into it.
“The Catholicos wants to visit Armenian patients to give them the word
of God,” said Mayis Shahbazyan, deacon of the Armenian Western Diocese.
The Pontiff is also scheduled to visit with Glendale Unified School
District students on June 6 at the Glendale High School auditorium.
His visit is sponsored by the Armenian clubs in the district.
“The district is very happy that he has decided to come and visit
with the students of Glendale,” said Bill Card, director of Public
Information and Administrative Services. “It’s important that the
students of Glendale receive instruction from the important role
models within their life.”
The Pontiff’s last stop in Glendale will be on June 7 at the Glendale
Civic Auditorium. He will meet with private school students from the
Glendale, Burbank and La Crescenta areas.
The Catholicos will also tour the rest of Southern California, stopping
in Burbank, Pasadena and Los Angeles. For the remainder of his tour,
he is scheduled to visit parishes in Central and Northern California,
including Fresno and Sacramento.
The Armenian Western Diocese is hosting the Pontiff’s visit.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress