PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
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Oriental Orthodox Sunday School Bible Competition
You are all champions of faith, for you have
chosen the path of Christ
Declared the Prelate
On the morning of Saturday, May 13, a Bible competition took place
between Sunday School students of Oriental Orthodox Churches under the
direction of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, at the `Armenak
Der Bedrossian’ Hall of St. Mary’s Church in Glendale. The event, which was
organized by the directors of the Sunday Schools, was held under the
auspices of the H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, H.E. Archbishop
Hovnan Derderian, Primate, H.G. Bishop Serapion, Prelate of the Coptic
Orthodox Church, and H.E. Archbishop Mor Eugene Kaplan, Prelate of the
Syriac Orthodox Church.
The competition encompassed the first ten chapters of the Gospel
of Matthew. Participating were 11 to 15 year old Sunday School students.
Prior to the competition, the students, led by the Prelates and
accompanied by their directors, gathered inside St. Mary’s Church where each
Church sang hymns and read prayers in its respective language. On behalf of
the organizing committee Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian, co-director of the
Prelacy Christian Education Department, delivered encouraging remarks to the
students.
At the start of the competition the students split into groups,
with each group being comprised of students from the various churches.
During the competition the preparedness of the students on the subject
matter and their eagerness to win first place was apparent.
Following the competition the host Prelate Archbishop Mardirossian
welcomed the Prelates and clergy members and commended the organizing
committee and all the directors and staff of the Sunday Schools. Turning to
the students he said, `You all are champions of faith, for you have chosen
the path of Christ. Your participation today is evidence of that faith.
You are like the man who built his house on a rock and not on sand. That
solid rock is Christ. Stand firm on that rock.’
Later on the Prelate presented mementos to the guest Prelates,
followed by greetings and blessings by the Prelates of the sister churches.
At the end of the event, medals were given to all participants and
trophies to the winners. There were also t-shirts handed out to all
participants with the logos of the churches.
Following the closing prayer and `Bahbanich’ a group picture was
taken in front of the church, after which the students enjoyed lunch. At
3:00 p.m. the students and directors departed with joy and triumph in their
hearts.