Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
3325 North Glenoaks Blvd.
Burbank, Ca 91504
Tel: 818-558-7474
Fax: 818-558-6333
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His Holiness Karekin ii
catholicos of all armenians
In the western DIOCESE
his holiness pays pontifical visit
to st. james armenian church, sacramento
June 15, 2004
At 7:00 p.m. on June 15, 2005 His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of
All Armenians, accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, Primate, His Eminence Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian, and
Vicar General Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian, paid a Pontifical
visit to the St. James Armenian Church in Sacramento.
Around 300 faithful were in attendance, anxiously awaiting the
arrival of His Holiness. The Catholicos entered the church while the
choir sang the hymns, `Hrashapar’, `Etch Miadzinn’, and `Oorakh Ler’.
Following the Prayer Service His Eminence welcomed the Catholicos
and invited him to address the faithful. His Holiness conveyed the
blessings of the Mother See and the greetings and love of our
brothers and sisters in Armenia, following which he commended the
efforts of the parish led by Pastor Rev. Fr. Yeghia Hairabedian. He
urged the faithful to remain loyal to their Christian faith and to
always protect their ties with the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Following the ceremony a reception took place in the church hall
hosted by the Parish Council, during which the Catholicos once more
created a spiritual enthusiasm within the faithful.
The faithful approached the Catholicos to receive his blessings,
during which the Pontiff distributed the newly published `I Confess
with Faith,’ recently printed in three languages by the Western
Diocese.
his holiness conducts
official groundbreaking of new center
for organization of istanbul ARMENIANS
June 15, 2004
His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, accompanied by
His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, His Eminence
Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian, and Vicar General Very Rev. Fr. Dajad
Dz. V. Yardemian, arrived at the center of the Organization of
Istanbul Armenians (OIA) at 9:30 p.m. on June 15, 2005 where he was
greeted by the OIA Board and members. The procession of clergy was
led by the singing of hymns, following which HIS Holiness consecrated
a Stone Cross and conducted the Ground Breaking Ceremony.
Several members of the Organization of Istanbul Armenians provided
their remarks. The organization conveyed their heartfelt gratitude to
the Catholicos who took time out of his extremely busy schedule to
bring his presence to the ceremony.
In his address the Catholicos blessed the faithful in attendance and
commended the service of Istanbul Armenians within the Armenian
Church.
The address to the new OIA Center is:
19726 Sherman Way
Winnetka, CA 91306
Tel. 818-342-6378
OFFICE OF THE WESTERN DIOCESE
June 16, 2005
Burbank, California