May 22, 2006
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]>
Website: <;
Western Prelacy Clergy Conference
WE EACH HAVE OUR INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERS, BUT COLLECTIVELY WE MUST HAVE ONE
AND THE SAME CHARACTER, THAT OF A CLERGY
Declared the Prelate
On the eve of the Western Prelacy 34th Representatives Assembly,
on Wednesday, May 17, 2006, a one-day clergy conference took place at Encino
‘s Holy Martyrs Church. The conference was held under the auspices of H.E.
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, and with the participation of the
clergy order, including H.E. Archbishop Yeprem Tabakian who is visiting our
Prelacy.
At 10:30 a.m. the day began with prayer services inside the
church, followed by opening remarks by the Prelate. The Prelate began by
expressing thanks and gratitude to the Lord for granting the opportunity to
hold this conference. In his remarks the Prelate spoke of the ideas that
emerged from the Clergy Conference at the Catholicosate in September of
2002, focusing on three main points. He stressed spiritual renewal, keeping
a close bond with parishioners, and to triumph over hardships with faith in
the Cross and the Holy Spirit.
The Prelate stressed that we often find ourselves in hardship yet
we seek answers outside of ourselves. We must not look for easy solutions
but rather work towards being able to confront any and all types of
hardship. We have a need for renewal; we must make more of an effort to
reach out to our parishioners and to offer them spiritual nourishment.
Reading from the Letter of Paul the Prelate continued: `I appeal to you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a
living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual
worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the
renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is
good and acceptable and perfect’ (Romans 12:1-2). The Prelate then read an
excerpt from the book `The Armenian Church’, by H.H. Catholicos Papken of
blessed memory, about having an honest character adding, `We each have our
individual characters, but collectively we must have one and the same
character; that of a clergy’.
CONFERENCE
Following the church services and spiritual reflections, the first session
of the conference convened at 11:30 a.m. at `Dickranian’ Hall. The session
opened with the Lord’s Prayer, followed by the Prelate welcoming Archbishop
Tabakian and clergy members, highly commended the work they have done
particularly in the past few months. He then invited Arch. Tabakian to
deliver his remarks.
During the conference, Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian lectured on
the three Ecumenical Councils and Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian on the
doctrine of the Holy Cross.
Following lunch, the second session began at 2:15 p.m. and
continued until 6:15 p.m. The second session was a meeting of the Religious
Council that reviewed the Council’s activities during the past year, as well
as issues relating to the then upcoming Representatives Assembly.
The conference concluded with the Prelate’s blessings and
`Bahbanich’ prayer.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
